Purpose <p>Female athletes wearing a sports hijab may experience greater heat strain during high-intensity intermittent exercise. This study examined the effects of menthol mouth rinse (MEN), neck cooling (NEC), and their combination (NEC + MEN) on repeated-shuttle sprint performance, physiological responses, and perceptual outcomes in hijab-wearing female futsal players exercising in hot–dry indoor conditions.</p> Methods <p>Twenty-five female players completed four randomized crossover trials conducted in a hot-dry environment (34 ± 1&#xa0;°C, 20–30% RH; WBGT ≈ 31&#xa0;°C). Each trial involved a 10 × 30-m out-and-back repeated-sprint test every 30&#xa0;s. Outcomes were mean/best sprint time, fatigue index, whole-body thermal sensation/comfort, RPE, and post-test HR, sweat loss, and pre-trial rectal temperature.</p> Results <p>Mean sprint time was faster in NEC and MEN + NEC than PLA (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001 for both) and modestly faster in MEN than PLA (<i>p</i> = 0.045). Best sprint time was faster in NEC and MEN + NEC than PLA (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), whereas MEN did not differ from PLA (<i>p</i> = 1.000). Fatigue index was lower in MEN, NEC, and MEN + NEC than PLA (all <i>p</i> ≤ 0.002). Post-RSA heart rate and rectal temperature did not differ between conditions (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.553). Sweat loss was lower in MEN + NEC and NEC than PLA (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.049). Thermal sensation/comfort and RPE increased over time (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) but were lower in NEC and MEN + NEC than PLA (condition effects, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01).</p> Conclusions <p>Neck cooling enhances repeated-shuttle sprint performance and reduces perceived thermal strain in hijab-wearing female futsal players in hot-dry indoor heat. Menthol provides smaller performance benefits, and MEN + NEC is broadly comparable to NEC alone for primary performance outcomes.</p> Trial registration <p>IRCT87477.</p>