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Afghan women footballers celebrate 'historical moment'
TL;DR
A FIFA rule change now allows Afghan women footballers to compete in official matches, marking a significant milestone for the team. Former captain Khalida Popal described this as a 'historical moment' and a result of a long struggle.
Key points
- FIFA rule change allows Afghan women to compete officially
- Afghanistan can now qualify for Women's World Cup and Olympics
- Khalida Popal calls it a historical moment
Mentioned in this story
Khalida PopalFIFA
Afghan football player Khalida Popal pictured in 2024 (JAIME SALDARRIAGA)
(JAIME SALDARRIAGA/AFP/AFP)
A FIFA rule change allowing Afghanistan's women footballers to compete in official matches is a "historical moment", former captain Khalida Popal told AFP on Thursday.
Afghanistan will in future be eligible to qualify for the Women's World Cup and the Olympics, something Popal said was the culmination of a "long fight".
"I woke up this morning imagining a young Afghan girl opening her eyes and saying, 'I've got the right to play'. This is a basic human right," Popal said from Copenhagen.
She added: "It's fantastic news, it's a historical moment we are trying to absorb."
The Afghanistan Women's National Team was founded by Popal and other players in 2007 in Kabul.
After the Taliban authorities retook power in 2021, about 100 players and family were evacuated to Melbourne in Australia, with team members also relocating to Europe, Britain and the United States.
Women in Afghanistan are banned from participating in sport, and the Taliban authorities have shut down clandestine exercise groups held behind closed doors.
A team of Afghan refugee players was formed between Europe and Australia, playing their first international matches at the FIFA Unites: Women's Series last year in Morocco.
The team could not play official competitions because FIFA rules previously required the approval of the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan Football Federation.
A FIFA amendment this week allows the official recognition of the Afghanistan team through agreement between FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.
It will also apply to other teams in exceptional circumstances that may be unable to register a national team.
"It has been a long fight but we are so grateful this history is made not only for the women of Afghanistan," said Popal.
"No team, if they face a situation like us, will suffer what we have sacrificed and suffered."
Afghanistan's women footballers hope to build an internationally competitive team drawing from players scattered across the globe, she said.
"This announcement will allow us to find the talent within the diaspora," she said.
Q&A
What does the FIFA rule change mean for Afghan women footballers?
The FIFA rule change allows Afghan women footballers to compete in official matches, enabling them to qualify for the Women's World Cup and the Olympics.
Who is Khalida Popal and what did she say about the rule change?
Khalida Popal is a former captain of the Afghan women's football team, and she described the FIFA rule change as a 'historical moment' and the result of a long fight for women's rights in sports.
How will this change impact the future of women's football in Afghanistan?
This change is expected to significantly enhance the visibility and opportunities for women's football in Afghanistan, encouraging more participation and support for the sport.
