Afghan Women Footballers Set for Return to International Matches After FIFA Rule Change

In a significant development for Afghan women's football, FIFA has greenlit a rule change that will permit the national team to participate in official international matches. This decision offers a beacon of hope for players who have been living in exile since the Taliban's resurgence in 2021, effectively barring women from many aspects of public life, including sports.

The Taliban's stringent restrictions on women and girls have had a devastating impact on sports in Afghanistan, forcing many female athletes to flee the country or abandon their careers. The Afghan women's national team has been unable to play an official competitive international match since before the Taliban regained control, highlighting the dire situation faced by female athletes.

This rule change is a direct outcome of FIFA's "Strategy for Action for Afghan Women's Football" and the establishment of Afghan Women United, a FIFA-supported initiative aimed at providing structured playing opportunities for Afghan women footballers globally. FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed pride in the journey of Afghan Women United and emphasized the goal of enabling these players to take the next step in international football.

Selection processes for the Afghan Women United squad are currently in motion, with FIFA organizing regional camps in England and Australia. The team is slated to play its next matches during the June international window, with further details on opponents and venues to be announced. This move by FIFA is a crucial step in ensuring that Afghan women footballers are not denied their right to compete on the international stage due to the political climate in their home country.

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We are proud of the beautiful journey initiated by Afghan Women United, and with this initiative, we aim to enable them, as well as other FIFA member associations that may not be able to register a national or representative team for a FIFA competition, to make the next step, in coordination with the relevant confederation.