Fifa approves Afghanistan women's team return to international competition

11 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Apr 29

Fifa amended its regulations at a Vancouver council meeting, enabling Afghan women, many now refugees, to compete officially despite not being recognized by their national federation.
Afghan Women United, supported by Fifa since May 2025, played three matches in Morocco and will hold selection camps in England and Australia before a June training camp in New Zealand.
Afghanistan remains ineligible for the 2027 Women's World Cup but could enter 2028 Olympic qualifiers, with over 80 Afghan female footballers now based in Australia, Europe, the USA, and the Middle East.

What happens if the Taliban officially protests this team representing Afghanistan on the world stage?

Can a football team of refugees truly represent a nation that has outlawed their right to play?

Could the team's international platform inadvertently risk the safety of players' families still living in Afghanistan?

Will Fifa's new 'exceptional circumstances' rule become a tool for human rights or a weapon in sports politics?

What real impact can this team's symbolic victories have on the daily lives of women inside Afghanistan?

How can a cohesive team be built for the 2028 Olympics when its players are scattered across different continents?