The Afghan women’s refugee side will be allowed to compete as an official national team after FIFA changed its rules on Tuesday.
Afghan Women United was created for evacuated female players of Afghan nationality who obtained refugee status abroad following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
FIFA’s regulations typically require recognition from their national federation to compete, but the world football governing body’s council voted on Tuesday to circumvent the rule for the team it sanctioned in May.
“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,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in the announcement on its website.
The Afghan Football Federation — controlled by the ruling Islamic fundamentalist group — does not acknowledge its women’s teams, after the Taliban banned women’s sports across the nation in 2021.
Afghanistan’s women’s side has not played an official football match since 2018 and no longer features in FIFA’s 196-team world rankings. Afghan Women United, however, made their first competitive appearance since being displaced in last year’s FIFA Unites tournament in Morocco.
The side was formed after three selection camps across Europe and Australia. United States-based refugees were not permitted to take part, however, after FIFA cited safety concerns as a reason for not making a similar camp available.
The selected Afghan team came third against Chad, Tunisia and Libya, beating the latter side 7-0 in their final game.
“Afghanistan’s women’s football team is a symbol of victory, peace and hope for Afghan women around the world,” Nilab Mohammadi, who captained Afghanistan when they last played an official game in 2018, told The Athletic in May.
“The rights and freedoms of women in Afghanistan must be highlighted and defended. This is our appeal to the world. Women’s football means fighting for freedom and respect.”