Nouhaila Benzina makes history as 1st player to wear hijab in FIFA Women’s World Cup

Morocco's Nouhaila Benzina has gone down in history as the first-ever football player to wear a hijab (Islamic headscarf) in the FIFA Women's World Cup.

The 25-year-old defender participated with her country's national team against South Korea on July 25 in the FIFA Women's World Cup, which is being held in Australia and New Zealand. The game ended with Morocco winning 1-0 against South Korea.

“If your morals do not lift you up, your position will not lift you. And if your actions don't make you well, your clothes won't do that … This is life: Religion, Morals and Principles. If you lost them, you will not be respected,” she wrote on her Instagram account on Thursday, July 27.

Benzina plays in the Moroccan sports club Association Sportive des Forces Armées Royales (AS FAR). She joined the club in 2017, according to Aswat Magharebia website.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) lifted a ban on headscarves for women players in 2012, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, other newspapers reported that the ban was removed in March 2014.

Women with hijab have no place to play in France

Although FIFA lifted its ban on female players with hijab, the French Council of State announced on June 29 that the ban on football players wearing the headscarf will remain, AFP reported.

A group of women called the “Hijabeuses” filed an appeal against the French Football Federation (FFF) to overturn the ban that had been imposed on the hijab in competitions, according to the Alliance Citoyenne website. The ban stipulated that the wearing of any sign or clothing that clearly shows political, philosophical, religious or trade union affiliation is not allowed.

“While FIFA and the International Olympic Committee have authorized the wearing of the veil since 2016 and 2014 respectively, France makes an exception in its regulations by relying on an alleged ‘sporting public order’ and the principle of neutrality in sport to prohibit the wearing of religious symbols on the grounds,” the Hijabeuses said in a statement on June 29.

Sports journalists called for reviewing French sports rules and to allow Muslim women to wear hijab. “I will expect all outlets who use Nouhaila's moment for content to follow-up on the topic of hijab bans in France. She matters like all other hijab-wearing players who want to play and are banned,” said CBC sports journalist Shireen Ahmed on her Twitter account.

As much as we celebrate these achievements, I will expect all outlets who use Nouhaila's moment for content to follow-up on the topic of hijab bans in France. She matters like all other hijab-wearing players who want to play and are banned. https://t.co/ueciRNvvDy

— Shireen Ahmed (@_shireenahmed_) July 30, 2023