FIFA Council approves Afghan women footballers' return to international matches
Synopsis
In a landmark decision, FIFA has cleared the path for Afghan women footballers to return to international competition — three years after the Taliban's 2021 takeover effectively shuttered the programme. Afghan Women United, a FIFA-backed exile squad, will now compete under Afghanistan's flag with full sporting recognition, marking the first time since 2021 that Afghan women can represent their nation officially. It's a rare instance of global sports governance stepping in to protect athletes' rights against state-level restrictions.
Key Takeaways
FIFA Council approved an amendment enabling Afghan female players to compete in official international matches on Wednesday.
Afghan Women United — a FIFA-funded squad — will represent Afghanistan through the Asian Football Confederation .
The Afghan women's team has not played an official competitive international match since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 .
Afghan Women United will hold a training camp from 1 to 9 June in New Zealand and face the Cook Islands .
FIFA will provide two-year transition support covering safeguarding, performance, and player welfare.
The FIFA Council on Wednesday approved a historic amendment to the FIFA Governance Regulations, enabling Afghan female players to compete in official international matches as part of FIFA competitions for the first time since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The decision marks a pivotal moment in restoring women's football representation in Afghanistan after a three-year absence from competitive international play.
What the amendment enables
The reformed regulations allow Afghan Women United — a FIFA-funded and FIFA-supported squad — to represent Afghanistan in official matches through the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the move as "momentous," emphasizing that it upholds FIFA's core principles of universality, inclusion, and non-discrimination. The amendment takes immediate effect, though administrative and preparatory steps including team registration and operational structuring will follow.
Timeline and immediate next steps
The Afghan Women United squad will conduct their next training camp from 1 to 9 June in New Zealand, where they will also face the Cook Islands in a competitive fixture. FIFA will oversee all required administrative processes and provide comprehensive support — human, technical, and financial resources — to ensure a professional and sustainable pathway to official competition.
Long-term support framework
FIFA has committed to a two-year transition support package for Afghan Women United players, covering safeguarding, performance standards, and player welfare. This structured approach aims to establish a durable foundation for the team's operations while maintaining international standards. The initiative builds on the FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women's Football, endorsed by the Council in May 2024.
Recognition from Afghan football leadership
Khalida Popal, former Afghanistan women's captain, hailed the decision as transformative. "For these players, representing Afghanistan is about identity, dignity and hope," Popal said, noting that FIFA's intervention had delivered "a solution that no other sport has ever achieved." The statement underscores the geopolitical significance of the ruling, which allows Afghan women athletes to maintain national representation despite severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban regime on women's participation in public life.
Broader context
This reform addresses a critical gap created when Afghanistan's national women's football programme effectively ceased following the Taliban takeover. Afghan Women United was created as an interim mechanism to provide structured playing opportunities for Afghan women footballers living in exile. Now, with official international recognition, these players can compete under their national flag with full sporting legitimacy — a rare instance of international sports governance intervening to protect athletes' rights in the face of state-level restrictions.
Point of View
Even in exile, is a quiet but significant assertion that athletes' fundamental rights transcend geopolitical boundaries. Whether this sets a precedent for other sports bodies to follow remains to be seen, but for now, it stands as a notable exception to the usual deference paid to state sovereignty in international sport.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Afghan women's football team not competed internationally since 2021?
The Afghan women's national team ceased international play following the Taliban's return to power in August 2021. The Taliban regime imposed severe restrictions on women's participation in public life, including sports, effectively halting the women's football programme.
What is Afghan Women United?
Afghan Women United is a FIFA-funded and FIFA-supported squad created to provide structured playing opportunities for Afghan women footballers living outside the country. It now has official recognition to compete in international matches under Afghanistan's name through the Asian Football Confederation.
When will Afghan Women United play their first official international match?
Afghan Women United will hold a training camp from 1 to 9 June in New Zealand, where they will also face the Cook Islands in a competitive fixture. This will be their first official international match since 2021.
What support is FIFA providing to Afghan Women United?
FIFA will provide human, technical, and financial resources to ensure a safe and professional pathway to competition. A two-year transition support package will cover safeguarding, performance standards, and player welfare during the team's establishment phase.
Does this amendment take effect immediately?
Yes, the amendment to FIFA Governance Regulations takes immediate effect. However, FIFA will now lead administrative and preparatory steps, including team registration and the establishment of operational and sporting structures, before official matches begin.
