The United Nations has named Khalida Popal, former player of the Afghanistan women’s national football team, among 15 well-known figures in world football as “Football for the Goals Champions.”
The organization announced that the selected players and coaches will serve as unofficial ambassadors to promote sustainability, gender equality, and human rights.
Among those named on the list are Carlo Ancelotti, head coach of Real Madrid, Javier Zanetti, vice president of Inter Milan, Eni Aluko, and Khalida Popal.
The United Nations emphasized that football, as the world’s most popular and accessible sport, can play an important role in raising awareness about global issues and strengthening cooperation among different communities.
Khalida Popal is considered one of the founders of the Afghanistan women’s national football team and has spent years advocating for the participation and activities of Afghan women in sports.
Popal, who was formerly the captain of Afghanistan’s women’s national football team, left Afghanistan in 2016 and currently lives in Denmark.
Following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, she also played a role in helping Afghan female football players and their family members leave Afghanistan.
Writer:Salima Aery
