Zest for women’s soccer grows in Middle East despite conservative opposition
By JOSEF OJANOVIC, CMC, Staff Writer
TULSA, Oklahoma – Zest for women’s soccer grew in the Middle East last year despite opposition from conservative Middle Eastern countries, according to a report released this week.
The report by the United States-based International Women’s Soccer Officials Association (IWSOFA) was commissioned by the United States Soccer Federation to examine the growth of women’s soccer in the Middle East and was released May 1.
The study found that women’s soccer grew steadily in several Middle Eastern countries in 2011, despite continuing opposition by conservative governments there, and despite restrictions on women’s soccer, both inside and outside the country.
The IWSOFA report was made possible by a partnership between the United States Football Association (USFA), the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) League and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
In the Middle East, women’s soccer was growing in Iraq (6.2 percent), Morocco (6.6 percent), Kuwait (4.7 percent), and Syria (2.1 percent).
The percentage of girls participating in WPS is increasing and has been in the region for more than five years.
The report also said that women’s soccer was growing in Egypt (3.5 percent), Iran (6.7 percent), Jordan (5 percent), Kuwait (4.7 percent), Oman (2.2 percent), Saudi Arabia (2.1 percent), Tunisia (3.3 percent), Qatar (2.1 percent), Oman (2.2 percent), and Syria (0.6 percent).
“The United States has strong interests in helping to grow the game of women’s soccer,” said USSF president Sunil Gulati. “However, we also believe that we can make a difference in women’s soccer by bringing this game to new audiences.
“The growth in women’s soccer has been phenomenal – we
