Following the collaboration between Bayern Munich men’s team and Aspire Academy, the Qatar women’s football team were fortunate enough to train with Bayern’s women’s side during their winter camp in Doha.

Aspire Academy was founded in 2004, with the intention of finding and developing the best young male Qatari athletes, whilst also providing them with high-quality secondary school education. 

Since then, steps have been made in the right direction towards making the sport more inclusive for Women, particularly in Qatar.

With the next men’s world cup due to be held in the country in 2022, Qatar is pushing towards a more progressive image regarding women’s rights and women’s sport.

In March 2019, the Dutch embassy in cooperation with the Qatar Women’s Sports Committee organised a four-day training course for aspiring football coaches.

Simon Chadwick, professor of sports enterprise at Salford University said: “Qatar appears to be adopting a somewhat more progressive stance on gender issues than several of its neighbours, including in the way it is promoting women’s football.”

The Qatar committee said the goal of the training exercise between the national team and Bayern Munich was to get the benefit from one of the best teams in women’s football.

Bayern currently sits third in the Women’s Bundesliga, behind Hoffenheim and leaders Wolfsburg.

Lola Hassan el Meri, the head of the Qatar Committee, was present at the event and praised the German coaches.

“It’s a great opportunity for us while the Bavarian side is in Doha,” she said.

El Meri further emphasised her desire that the players made the most of such an incredible experience, but hopes it won’t be the last.