Fifa has granted permission for Afghan Women United, a team of refugees based in Australia, the Middle East and Europe, to represent Afghanistan in official competitions without the approval of the Taliban. The regulation change, expected to be approved by the Fifa Council, marks the first time the squad can compete as the official Afghanistan national team against the wishes of the country's government.
Under previous rules, Fifa required recognition from the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan Football Federation, which refuses to acknowledge a women's team due to the Taliban's ban on women's sports. The Afghan Women players and supporters have campaigned for over three years for Fifa to intervene and provide official recognition and financial support.
The team was formed after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, when the original women's national team, established in 2007, was banned and most of its players sought asylum. The new team is part of a three-pillar Fifa strategy to support women and girls in Afghanistan, including diplomatic efforts and creating playing opportunities.
Fifa organised fixtures for the team and last year launched the inaugural Fifa Unites: Women's Series in the UAE, though the tournament was moved to Morocco after players were denied visas. Captain Fatima Haidari, based in Italy, said: 'When I step on to the pitch everything else is automatically erased from my mind. I train, I play, and a fire inside me is lit.'
