The Afghan women’s football team, whose activities inside the country were suspended following the political upheaval and ensuing domestic restrictions, has once again returned to international competition after being recognized by FIFA.
On Thursday, 14 Jawza, the team played its first match in Auckland, New Zealand, against the Cook Islands. The game ended in a 1–0 defeat, but the players’ return to the international stage has been regarded as a significant development in Afghan women’s football.
Following the collapse of the former republican government and the cessation of women’s sports in Afghanistan, members of the team migrated to various countries. They are now competing internationally under the name “Afghan Women United.”
Several members of the squad have sought refuge in countries such as Australia, Canada, and various European states in recent years, where they have continued their sporting careers. They maintained their training in dispersed groups before eventually reorganizing into a cohesive team.
FIFA has recently introduced changes to the structure of women’s competitions, granting this team permission to participate in international tournaments under its new designation—an initiative that has paved the way for the gradual re-emergence of Afghan women’s football on the global stage.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
