Doha College, one of the oldest international schools in the country, recently hosted a girls’ only football tournament, with participants from its own sporting academy Evolution Sports Qatar (EVO), as well as PSG Academy and Lusail Football Club.
Girls from over 30 nationalities joined together on the floodlit 4G pitch and put their skills to the test.
10-year-old Saffiyah Shaikh, a Year 6 Doha College student was thrilled at the opportunity to be part of the game. She said: “I was born in Manchester and football is a big part of the local culture. It allows me to be free on the pitch. It also teaches me discipline, to keep going and always get back up.”
Football's governing body FIFA, stated that it hopes 60mn women around the globe will be playing the game by 2026. This is twice as much as the numbers that were playing less than 10 years ago.
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has generated a surge in the popularity of the women's game. New generations of footballers are emerging and proving that inclusivity is a reality of the present, rather than a faraway goal.
Rosie Todd, EVO’s new Girls’ Soccer co-ordinator, shared her first impressions of the opportunities for girls to be involved in football: “I didn't really know what to expect when I arrived in Qatar a few months ago. The first time I saw the girls playing, I could tell that there was a fantastic foundation built up by EVO since the club started in 2007. With the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 set to inspire thousands more, this can only keep growing and growing, and this is a positive impact we can make on the future of girls’ football.”
Girls from over 30 nationalities joined together on the floodlit 4G pitch and put their skills to the test.
Saffiyah Shaikh
10-year-old Saffiyah Shaikh, a Year 6 Doha College student was thrilled at the opportunity to be part of the game. She said: “I was born in Manchester and football is a big part of the local culture. It allows me to be free on the pitch. It also teaches me discipline, to keep going and always get back up.”
Football's governing body FIFA, stated that it hopes 60mn women around the globe will be playing the game by 2026. This is twice as much as the numbers that were playing less than 10 years ago.
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has generated a surge in the popularity of the women's game. New generations of footballers are emerging and proving that inclusivity is a reality of the present, rather than a faraway goal.
Action from a match
Rosie Todd, EVO’s new Girls’ Soccer co-ordinator, shared her first impressions of the opportunities for girls to be involved in football: “I didn't really know what to expect when I arrived in Qatar a few months ago. The first time I saw the girls playing, I could tell that there was a fantastic foundation built up by EVO since the club started in 2007. With the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 set to inspire thousands more, this can only keep growing and growing, and this is a positive impact we can make on the future of girls’ football.”
