Afghanistan women’s refugee players allowed to compete as official national team

TL;DR

Fifa has authorized Afghan Women United, a team of refugee players, to compete as the official Afghanistan national team without Taliban approval. This marks a significant change in regulations, allowing the team to participate in international competitions.

Key points

Fifa allows Afghan Women United to compete as Afghanistan's national team
Team consists of refugees from Australia, the Middle East, and Europe
Previous regulations required Taliban recognition for competition
Team formed after Taliban's return to power in 2021
Fifa aims to support women and girls in Afghanistan through this initiative

Mentioned in this story

FifaAfghanistanMoroccoItaly

Afghan Women United

The Afghan Women United team competed in the inaugural Fifa Unites: Women’s Series in Morocco last year.Photograph: Jalal Morchidi/EPA (Photograph: Jalal Morchidi/EPA) Fifa has given permission for Afghan Women United, a squad composed of refugees scattered around the world in Australia, the Middle East and Europe, to represent Afghanistan in official competitions without requiring the approval of the Taliban. In a significant regulation change to be approved by the Fifa Council today, Afghan Women will be permitted to compete as the official Afghanistan national team for the first time, against the wishes of the country’s government. Related: ‘Never lose hope’: how a new Afghanistan women’s team helps refugees cope with trauma Under the previous regulations Fifa required the team to receive recognition from the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan Football Federation, which will not recognize a women’s football team due to the Taliban’s ban on women’s sports. For more than three years, the Afghan Women players and their supporters have campaigned for Fifa to intervene and provide them with the official recognition and financial support denied to them by Afghanistan. Afghan Women was formed after the Taliban returned to power in 2021 and the official women’s national team, which had been set up in 2007, was banned with most of their players seeking asylum. The new team was part of a three-pillar strategy introduced by Fifa to support women and girls in Afghanistan, which also included engaging in diplomatic efforts to advocate for the right of women to take part in sport and providing opportunities for them to play. Fifa also organized fixtures for the team and last year set up the inaugural Fifa Unites: Women’s Series in the United Arab Emirates, although the players were which led to the tournament being moved to Morocco. “When I step on to the pitch everything else is automatically erased from my mind,” captain Fatima Haidari, who is based in , told the Guardian in an interview last year. “I train, I play, and a fire inside me is lit, not just because of the power that I feel at that moment as a player, but because I feel I have many other girls with me. It’s like I’m taking their hands. Like I’m playing with them. It’s not just for me, and I feel powerful.”

Q&A

What is Afghan Women United and why are they competing as Afghanistan's national team?

Afghan Women United is a team of refugees formed after the Taliban's return to power, and they are now allowed to compete as Afghanistan's national team due to a Fifa regulation change.

How did Fifa's decision impact women's football in Afghanistan?

Fifa's decision allows Afghan Women United to represent Afghanistan officially, providing recognition and support that was previously denied due to the Taliban's ban on women's sports.

What challenges did the Afghan women's football team face before Fifa's approval?

The team faced challenges such as needing Taliban recognition to compete and being denied visas for international tournaments, which hindered their ability to play and gain support.