Basmah Nawaf Alshnaifi becomes first female from Saudi to be a mascot at the global sporting tournament

04 June, Riyadh - Basmah Nawaf Alshnaifi, a young girl from Saudi with a passion for football, has been given the opportunity of a lifetime, to become the first female Saudi mascot at the UEFA Champions League. The priceless experience was made possible for her thanks to Mastercard.

Dedicated to supporting women empowerment in all fields, Mastercard provided an opportunity for Basmah to walk the stadium with global footballers in the final match of UEFA Champions League in Madrid. As the official sponsor of the sporting tournament, the payments technology leader offered Saudi cardholders the chance to win a surprise ticket simply by using their Mastercard debit and credit cards for everyday payments.

J.K. Khalil, General Manager, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Mastercard said: “At Mastercard, we are committed to offering cardholders priceless opportunities that allow them to pursue their passions. It is heartening to see such unbridled enthusiasm for football among young Saudi girls today, and we couldn’t be happier for help make Basmah’s dream a reality. By innovating in the way we engage with consumers, we will continue to bring unique campaigns to the Kingdom that resonate with the people’s passions and make every day digital payments simple, secure and rewarding.”

Basmah was given a priceless surprise - a ticket to the UEFA Champions League Final match between Tottenham and Liverpool, where she got the chance to be the mascot for football legends.

“I never thought I would ever have such an experience in my life. I have always had the dream to play in a big stadium and today I am present in the UEFA Champions League Final as a player mascot. I want to thank Mastercard for making this happen. This is the best gift I’ve ever received and I will always remember it, thank you as well to my family and academy for supporting me” said Basmah Nawaf Alshnaifi on her experience.

Mastercard has been a proud sponsor of UEFA Champions League since 1994  and recently added two women’s football clubs, Arsenal Football Club and Olympique Lynonais to its global portfolio, sending a powerful signal for gender equality in sports and demonstrates a continued focus on gender balanced marketing. Mastercard has been a long-standing advocate of the importance of diversity, inclusion and partnering to promote good governance and integrity in world sport.