Damascus, July 2 (SANA) Syrian referee Alissar Baddour has said she aspires to reach the FIFA World Cup refereeing stage in the coming years, following her historic appointment at the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026 final.
Baddour became the first Syrian woman to officiate a continental final in women’s competitions when she was appointed to referee the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup final between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Japan in Suzhou in May 2026.
The tournament featured 12 national teams, with the top four qualifying for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea retained the title.
In previous statements to media outlets, Baddour said officiating a continental final represents a key milestone in her refereeing career and a step toward higher international appointments, stressing that consistent performance at continental level is essential for progressing to global competitions, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup and World Cup refereeing.
She added that her ambition is to continue advancing in international refereeing with the aim of participating in future FIFA World Cup editions, noting that such progress requires sustained technical development, physical preparation, and exposure to high-level competitions.
Baddour’s appointment to the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup final followed her participation in the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup, where she began as a reserve referee before officiating group-stage and quarterfinal matches, in addition to serving as fourth official in the final.
Born in 1996 in Yahmour village in Tartous Governorate, Baddour studied Technical Engineering at the University of Latakia and Media at Damascus University. She began her sporting career in athletics and basketball before moving into football refereeing with family support.
She comes from a sporting family. Her father, Talal Baddour, has a long career in Syrian football as a player, coach, referee and administrator, and currently serves as Secretary of the Technical Football Committee in Tartous. Her brother, Ammar Baddour, is a first-division referee.
In 2018, Baddour became the first Syrian woman to officiate a men’s match inside Syria, serving as an assistant referee in a Syrian Cup match between Tishreen and Qalaat Halab in Latakia.
FIFA regulations state there are no restrictions preventing women referees from officiating men’s matches, and female referees have previously participated in major domestic and international competitions.
Baddour stressed the importance of continued training, physical readiness and technical development, noting that referees play a central role in protecting players, managing matches and maintaining the spirit of the game.
She also said Syrian referees are capable of further progress at continental and international levels, highlighting ongoing efforts to develop refereeing standards in Syria to strengthen the country’s presence in global football.
Frs / Mzn
