Soraya Chaoui López, CEO of W Group, is a pioneer in women’s football in Spain. With a background in education and a UEFA A coaching license, she founded WSS Barcelona, a 100% female club, and rescued CE Seagull, the oldest women’s football club in the country. Her mission is clear: to break barriers, empower girls and women through sport, and build the first exclusive women’s sports center. Passionate, resilient, and visionary, Soraya leads with the conviction that football can drive equality, sustainability, and lasting social change.
Background and Education
Soraya holds a degree in Primary Education and a UEFA A coaching license. Her academic and professional background combines pedagogy with sports, giving her the tools to drive innovation and professionalism in women’s football.
Journey into Women’s Football
Her passion for football began with her father, who introduced her to the sport at a very young age. Experiencing gender barriers growing up fueled her determination to create change and ensure that future generations of girls could see football as a sport truly belonging to them.
Professional Path
Soraya has held multiple roles in women’s football, from assistant coach and analyst to sports director, general director, and president. Her breakthrough came when she founded WSS Barcelona, a 100% female football club designed with structures tailored to women’s needs. Today, as CEO of W Group, the first women’s sports group in Spain, she leads impactful projects shaping the future of the sport.
Achievements and Highlights
Among her greatest accomplishments are building WSS Barcelona from scratch without fixed facilities and rescuing CE Seagull, the oldest women’s football club in Spain, from the brink of disappearance. In just two years, she achieved financial and sporting stability, ensuring that a pioneering institution remained alive and relevant.
Challenges and Resilience
Soraya has faced resistance from traditional male football environments and the lack of institutional support for women’s sport. With resilience and a clear vision, she has established credibility and fought to prove that women’s football thrives when given proper investment and care.
Vision and Passion
Her dream is to create the first exclusive women’s sports center, offering facilities not only for football but for all female disciplines, including specialized medical care, psychological support, and maternal services. She envisions a future where ex-professional athletes lead organizations, making women’s football more competitive, attractive, and inclusive.
Impact and Values
Soraya’s work is rooted in equality, empowerment, and sustainability. She sees football as a tool for community building, environmental awareness, and social change. Her leadership proves that women’s football is not only a growing industry but also a movement shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future.
