Emirati international assistant referee Amal Jamal has been selected by FIFA to officiate at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup — a milestone appointment confirmed by the UAE Football Association, which praised Jamal as a talented and experienced international referee.
Amal Jamal Heads to the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
The tournament is scheduled to take place in the Dominican Republic from October 16 to November 3, 2024, bringing together the world's best under-17 women's national teams.
Jamal will serve as an AR1 (first assistant referee) at the competition, continuing a streak of high-level international appointments that has cemented her place among the region's most respected officials.
A Groundbreaking Career in UAE Football
Amal Jamal Badhafari's rise through the ranks of football officiating has been nothing short of historic. On April 23, 2021, she made history by becoming the first Emirati woman to officiate at a professional men's football game — a milestone that underscored her technical quality and the confidence FIFA and the UAE Football Association place in her.
Her path to the highest levels of the sport was shaped early. She comes from a football family: her father was a professional footballer, and her brother Mohamed Jamal currently plays for Al Ain. When she developed a passion for the game, her family provided her with unwavering support and encouragement.
UAE Football Association Welcomes the Appointment
The UAE Football Association welcomed the news, pointing to Jamal's profile as evidence that Emirati women are competing — and officiating — at the very top of world football.
Her selection for the Amal Jamal FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup assignment follows a steady accumulation of international experience and represents another landmark moment for women in UAE sport.
The Dominican Republic tournament runs from October 16 to November 3, 2024.
