Nouhaila Benzina Breaks FIFA World Cup Record Using Hijab

Nouhaila Benzina, a Moroccan defender, has made history by becoming the first player to wear a hijab at a FIFA World Cup.

Benzina, 25, adorned the Islamic headscarf as she made her first appearance at the tournament in her side’s 1-0 win over South Korea.

FIFA in 2014 approved the wearing of head coverings for religious reasons.

Morocco are one of the eight teams playing their first-ever Women’s World Cup this summer.

Nouhaila Benzina, who plays her club football in Morocco, becomes the first player to wear the hijab at a senior women’s international tournament.

The 25-year-old was previously an unused substitute during Morocco’s opening game against Germany, which they lost 6-0.

Muslim girls and women wear the hijab as a display of modesty, but it’s not always welcomed on the football pitch.

It was banned by the game’s governing body Fifa until 2014 when they allowed players to wear it for religious reasons.

The Three Hijabis fan group member, Amna Abdullatif, reveals that it is “really significant” to see a player wearing the hijab on such a big stage.

Speaking to BBC in an interview, she said Nouhaila Benzina is “representing many of us who never thought we’d ever see this”.

“Many Muslim women have said how much it would have meant growing up.”

“How much it would mean to their children, growing up to see that representation on the world stage.”

Despite Benzina’s show of modesty today, July 30, the hijab in football and its road to the Women’s World Cup have a long, complicated history.

Recall we reported that Nigeria’s Barcelona attacker Asisat Oshoala recently took off her clothes to celebrate her goal against Australia despite being a Muslim.

A lot of Muslims around the world criticized her actions irrespective of the reason she celebrated, but now Benzina has restored some modesty.

Nouhaila Benzina

Nouhaila Benzina is a Moroccan footballer who was born on 11 May, 1998 and plays as a defender for ASFAR and the Morocco women’s national team.

Benzina made history as the first female player to ever wear an Islamic headscarf at the senior-level FIFA Women’s World Cup in July 2023.

Benzina’s groundbreaking attempt was described as a historic first by a female as it was the first time such occurrence was recorded in a World Cup match.