FIFA approves Afghan women's football team for matches

Members of the Afghan women's national football team, once forced into hiding after the Taliban's return to power, are now preparing for international competition following a landmark decision by the sport's global governing body. This week, 23 players from the Afghan Women United program are in a training camp in Auckland, New Zealand, where they will play matches against a team from the Cook Islands.

The journey to this point has been perilous. Players like Fatima Yousufi and Mona Amini pursued football and education in Afghanistan with family support. However, when the Taliban regained control in 2021 and banned all women's sports, the national team players were forced into hiding. A frantic evacuation followed, with 13 players finding refuge in Australia. There, they continued to live, train, and play for five years, holding onto the hope of representing their country again.

Despite the Afghanistan Football Federation not recognizing the women's team, FIFA granted the squad eligibility for international competition in April. Midfielder Mona Amini described hearing the news as a special day, attributing it to years of hard work. The team had already achieved a symbolic...