Afghan Women's Refugee Team allowed to play in FIFA competitions

Football governing body FIFA on Tuesday announced that the Afghan Women's Refugee Team will be allowed to participate in official competitions.

"The FIFA Council today approved a momentous amendment to the FIFA Governance Regulations, which enables Afghan female players – including members of the FIFA-funded and FIFA-supported Afghan Women United squad – to represent their country in official international matches as part of FIFA competitions," said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

FIFA said that the purpose of the "historic decision" was to "ensure that players are not excluded from international football due to situations beyond their control, in line with FIFA’s statutory principles of universality, inclusion and non-discrimination."

FIFA regulations had previously required the women's team to receive recognition from the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan Football Federation in order to compete.

Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have issued more than 70 decrees restricting girls' and women's rights. The women's national team has not played an official competitive international since then, amid a ban on women's sports.

"This is a powerful and unprecedented step in world sport," Infantino said.

"FIFA has listened to these players as part of its responsibility to protect the right of every girl and woman to play football and to represent who they are. By enabling Afghan women to compete for their country in official matches, we are turning principles into action. FIFA is proud to lead this historic initiative and to stand alongside these courageous players on and off the pitch."

The FIFA-supported Afghan Women's Refugee Team, also known as Afghan Women United, was brought together to provide structured playing opportunities for Afghan women footballers living outside the country.

It debuted against Morocco in October in the FIFA Unites – Women’s Series 2025 following talent identification camps across England and Australia. The team is coached by former Scotland player Pauline Hamill.

"This decision recognizes Afghan women footballers not as victims of circumstance, but as elite players with the right to compete, be seen and be respected," said Nadia Nadim, who was born in Afghanistan and went on to win over 100 caps for .