Fifa has granted permission to Afghan Women United, a team of female refugees, to officially compete as the national Afghan women’s football team.
The Fifa Council approved the regulation change on Wednesday at a summit in Vancouver, allowing the team to bypass the Taliban. The hardline government has banned the national women’s football team and imposed hugely oppressive measures on women and girls in Afghanistan since returning to power in 2021.
Fifa previously insisted the team required recognition from the Afghanistan Football Federation, controlled by the Taliban, which it would not grant. The exiled players and their supporters campaigned for over three years for Fifa to reverse its position and ensure they could compete internationally.
The team has not played an official competitive match since before the Taliban’s return to power and subsequent ban on women’s sports, after which most of the players sought asylum.
The refugee outfit is spread out across Australia - where the senior national team was evacuated to in 2021 - Europe and the Middle East. Prior to the Taliban’s takeover there were 25 women contracted to the national team.
The Afghan Women United founder and former national team captain Khalida Popal said: “For five years, we were told the Afghanistan women's national team could never compete again because the men who took our country would not allow it.
“I am extremely proud of this decision by Fifa and glad that our collective advocacy has not only changed the future for Afghan women but also ensured that no other national team has to sacrifice what our players did."
She told Reuters: “Our team has always been known as an activist team. The team will be a symbol of resilience. I know that it's going to be tough because the Afghan women inside Afghanistan will struggle to be part of that.
“But if we can still be the voice for them to send out hope messages and show them our support that you are not forgotten, then we will continue to use our platform.”
It is too late for the Afghanistan team to attempt to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, but it can participate in the qualifying process for the LA Olympics in 2028.
The squad is expected to play its next matches during the international window in June, with opponents and venues yet to be decided.
Australia-based player Nazia Ali said: “For the last few years, we have played under many names — as refugees, as Afghan Women United, and as guests of other clubs — but in our hearts, we were always the national team. To hopefully be able to wear our flag again officially is a feeling I cannot describe."