FIFA grants Afghan women’s refugee team official international status
By Nawaz Gohar ; In a historic and landmark decision, FIFA has officially authorized the Afghan women’s refugee football team to participate in international competitions.
The team, comprising players forced to flee their homeland approximately five years ago following the Taliban’s takeover, has been granted the eligibility to represent Afghanistan on the global stage.
During a recent council meeting in Vancouver, the FIFA Council approved a significant amendment to its statutes. Through this regulatory change, the body officially recognized the refugee squad, which plays under the name “Afghan Women United.”
Exercising its authority to handle exceptional circumstances, FIFA has registered the team, formally designating “Afghan Women United” as the official national women’s team of Afghanistan. FIFA confirmed that this marks the first time the team will compete as an official national entity.
While the team is unable to participate in the qualifying process for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, they have been cleared to compete in the qualifying rounds for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Expressing his support for the initiative, the FIFA President stated that the governing body is proud of the journey “Afghan Women United” has undertaken.
He further emphasized that this move is part of a broader commitment by FIFA to ensure that players, as well as member associations currently unable to register a national or representative team for official FIFA competitions, are provided with the necessary support and pathways—in collaboration with their respective confederations—to pursue their footballing aspirations.
