Fifa has approved an amendment allowing the Afghan women's football team to play international matches with full recognition, the governing body said after its council meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday. The amendment was approved under exceptional circumstances, allowing national or representative teams that cannot be registered normally due to political or social factors to gain Fifa recognition.
According to the Afghan Football Federation, Afghanistan women have not played a competitive international since December 2018. The Taliban's return to power in 2021 imposed restrictions on women's sports, according to human rights groups, forcing many players to seek asylum overseas, effectively ending the national team's participation in international football.
Our team has always been known as an activist team. But this opportunity, with the right support from Fifa, will be the time for us to also show some skills and develop the youth talent in the diaspora. I know it's going to be tough because Afghan women inside Afghanistan will struggle to be part of that. But if we can still be the voice for them to send out hope messages and show them our support that you are not forgotten, then we will continue to use our platform.
Currently, more than 80 Afghan female footballers live in Australia, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East, according to diaspora coordinators. Fifa is hosting regional selection camps in England and Australia, with a training camp scheduled in New Zealand in June. According to Fifa, Afghan United Women, a refugee team sanctioned by Fifa, played three matches in 2025 as part of the Fifa United Women's Series, including their first win against Libya in November. Khalida Popal, former captain of Afghanistan women's national team, said: 'Our team has always been known as an activist team. But this opportunity, with the right support from Fifa, will be the time for us to also show some skills and develop the youth talent in the diaspora. I know it's going to be tough because Afghan women inside Afghanistan will struggle to be part of that. But if we can still be the voice for them to send out hope messages and show them our support that you are not forgotten, then we will continue to use our platform.'
Fifa confirmed that Afghanistan will not be eligible to qualify for the 2027 Women's World Cup, but they could compete in qualifying for the 2028 Olympics. The team is expected to return to action in June, though the exact date of their first match has not been confirmed. The decision builds on the formation of Afghan Women United, a refugee team sanctioned and supported by Fifa for a one-year pilot in May 2025, according to Fifa officials. Fifa president Gianni Infantino said: '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.'
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.
Questions remain about how the team will be selected from the diaspora and what will happen to players still inside Afghanistan, who face severe restrictions. The amendment's broader implications for other teams in similar situations are also unclear, as is the long-term funding and support structure for the Afghan team.