SOCCER: 'Historic and empowering' says former Afghan women's soccer captain on new team

FIFA has approved a rule change allowing Afghan women footballers to play official international matches in FIFA competitions, giving players exiled since the Taliban's return to power a route back into international football.

Afghanistan's women's national team has not played an official competitive international since before the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The Taliban authorities have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, including restrictions affecting education, work and sport, forcing many female athletes to flee the country or abandon competition.

The rule change builds on FIFA's Strategy for Action for Afghan Women's Football, endorsed by the FIFA Council in May last year, and follows the creation of Afghan Women United, a FIFA-supported team providing structured playing opportunities for Afghan women footballers living outside the country.

The selection phase for the next Afghan Women United squad is under way, with FIFA hosting regional selection camps in England and Australia and providing individual support packages to nearly 90 players.

Afghan Women United are expected to play their next matches during the June women's international window, with details of opponents and venues to be announced.

In 2021, FIFA helped evacuate more than 160 at-risk players, officials and human rights defenders connected to football and basketball in Afghanistan.

Women's football advocates have repeatedly urged FIFA to formally recognise and support Afghan women players in exile, arguing they should not be denied international careers because of restrictions imposed inside Afghanistan.

Speaking to Reuters in Vancouver, former team captain Khalida Popal, who is now living as a refugee in Denmark and has long fought for full recognition, expressed her delight at the decision.

"It's a historic moment right now that I've witnessed. It's extremely empowering.

"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 still can be the voice for them to send out the hope messages and also show them the support to the women of Afghanistan, that you are not forgotten."

Popal was the founder member of the national team in 2007, and by 2010 they had played their first full international against Bangladesh, but a year later she was forced to flee Afghanistan.

-Iain Axon, Julien Pretot/Reuters