How Nouhaila Benzina is leading the way for Muslim women in football

Moroccan defender Nouhaila Benzina created history last week, becoming the first player to wear the Islamic hijab at a FIFA World Cup.

The 25-year-old wore the Islamic headscarf in her first appearance at the 2023 Women's FIFA World Cup after her side beat South Korea 1-0.

Benzina was an unused sub in her country's opening game against Germany, a match they managed to forget quickly after losing 6-0.

Morocco is one of eight teams to debut at this year's Women's World Cup, becoming the first Arab team to feature at women's football's most prestigious event.

According to dailymail.co.uk, Moroccan captain Ghizlane Chebbak said: "We are honored to be the first Arab country to take part in the Women's World Cup, and we feel that we have to shoulder a big responsibility to give a good image."

For Benzina, her historic act at the biggest tournament in the world is significant for Muslim women across the world, giving them a player to look up to and a sense of pride when they play the sport with a hijab on.

Before 2014, access to playing football for Muslim women was very limited, with FIFA banning players from wearing a hijab due to health and safety concerns.

Ten years before this world cup, had Morocco been at the tournament, a player wanting to wear a hijab was forced not to wear one and play or wear one and sit out.

This makes Benzina's huge act of wearing one a major breakthrough for Muslim women in football, creating chances, dreams, and inclusion.

The hijab is still banned in France, which made it illegal for players to wear one at the 2019 World Cup. However, since FIFA overturned the rule in 2014, players have been free to wear one.

Even just a day after becoming the first player to wear a hijab, Nouhaila Benzina has inspired local Australians to follow the Moroccan team.

According to dailymail.co.uk, one Melbourne native attended a Moroccan training session and now plans to support their national team.

As well as the Morocco National team, Benzina plays for the Association's Sports of Forces Armed Royal, competing in the Moroccan Women's Championship.

Benzina has won 14 major honors since playing for the Armed Forces, including seven league titles and one CAF Women's Champions League.

In the Moroccan Women's Championship, the hijab is commonly worn by a large majority of the players in the league.

With the hope of more players being comfortable wearing a hijab and playing football at the highest level, the popularity of the sport for Muslim women should continue to grow.