In a decision that female players and activists described as “historic and unprecedented,” the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced on Thursday the adoption of a new amendment allowing players of the Afghan women’s national team to participate in official matches despite the political and security conditions that Afghanistan has been experiencing since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. This decision is considered a major shift in the course of Afghan women’s football, after female players were deprived for years of representing their country due to restrictions imposed on women’s sports within the country.

Published on: 04/30/2026 - 16:07

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has approved an amendment allowing Afghan female players to participate in official matches, which the former captain of the Afghanistan women’s football team, Khaleda Popal, considered a “historic moment.”

In the future, Afghanistan can qualify for the Women's World Cup and the Olympic Games, in a move that Bhopal considered the culmination of a "long struggle."

"I woke up this morning imagining a young Afghan girl opening her eyes and saying, 'I have the right to play. This is a basic human right,'" she said from Copenhagen. "It's wonderful news. It's a historical moment that we're trying to comprehend."

Bhopal, along with other players, founded the Afghanistan women's national team in 2007 in Kabul.

After the Taliban authorities returned to power in 2021, about 100 players and their family members were evacuated to Melbourne, Australia, while others moved to Europe, Britain, and the United States.

Women in Afghanistan are prohibited from practicing sports, and the Taliban authorities have cracked down on secret exercises that were organized behind closed doors.

A team of female Afghan refugee players (Afghan United) was formed between Europe and Australia, and played its first international matches in the women's FIFA Unites series last year in Morocco.

The team was unable to participate in official competitions because FIFA rules previously required the approval of the Afghan Football Federation, which is controlled by the Taliban.

But FIFA took a decision this week to officially recognize the Afghan national team through an agreement between it and the Asian Football Confederation.

This procedure will also be applied to other teams in exceptional circumstances that may prevent the registration of a national team.

“It was a long struggle, but we are very grateful for making this history, not only for the women of Afghanistan,” Bhopal said, adding, “No team will suffer if it faces a situation like ours, what we sacrificed and what we faced.”

Afghanistan's female players expressed their hope to build a team capable of competing internationally, while relying on players spread around the world, according to Popal, who said, "This announcement will allow us to find talent within the Afghan communities abroad."

'An unprecedented step'

The next step will be for the players to undergo tests in preparation for a possible match in June.

Afghanistan will not be eligible to compete for qualification to the 2027 Women's World Cup, but it will be able to try to qualify for the next editions.

FIFA President, Swiss-Italian Gianni Infantino, said after the decision, “It is a strong and unprecedented step in the world of sports.”

He added, "FIFA listened to these players as part of its responsibility to protect the right of every girl and woman to play football and represent who they are," considering that "by enabling Afghan women to represent their country in official matches, we are translating our principles into actual (steps) on the ground."

He continued, "FIFA is proud to play a leadership role in this historic initiative, and to stand united with these brave female players on and off the field."

He pointed out, "This reform step is consistent with the FIFA strategy for women's football in Afghanistan, which was adopted by the FIFA Council last May... For the first time, Afghan female players will be able to represent their country in official matches with full sporting recognition."

In this regard, the FIFA statement quoted Nadia Nadeem, who was born in Afghanistan and represented Denmark in more than 100 international matches, saying, “This decision recognizes the right of Afghan female players to compete, be visible and be respected. It also reveals the potential that sport can offer when guided by values ​​and leadership.”

Although “the amendment takes immediate effect, starting now, FIFA will supervise administrative and preparatory procedures, including team registration, and the establishment of a practical and sporting methodology, so that the governing body for world football affairs provides all the required resources, whether human, technical or financial, to ensure the availability of a safe, professional and sustainable path for official tournaments,” according to the statement.

FIFA noted, “The support packages for the United Afghan Women team will continue during the transitional phase for up to two years, which will allow the new framework to take shape and maintain the highest standards of protection, performance and safety.”

The “United Afghan Women” team, which is supported and funded by FIFA, will take part in its next training camp between the first and ninth of June in New Zealand, where it will have the opportunity to face the Cook Islands national team, according to what the supreme football body confirmed in its statement issued on Wednesday.

France 24/AFP

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