FIFA Approves Refugee Team Initiative to Support Afghan Women Footballers

Report by Safarti Tarjuman Sports Desk

FIFA has unveiled a historic three-pronged strategy aimed at empowering Afghan women footballers, including the formation of a special refugee team composed of players who fled the country after the Taliban regained control.

The initiative is built on three key pillars: targeted project support for women and girls still living in Afghanistan, diplomatic engagement with the de facto authorities, and the creation of international competitive opportunities for displaced Afghan players. The refugee team will launch with a one-year pilot program, enabling participation in FIFA-sanctioned matches and tournaments while prioritizing player safety and mental health support.

Due to delayed implementation, the refugee team will not be eligible to compete in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as Afghanistan is absent from the qualifiers for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Khalida Popal, the founder of the original Afghanistan women’s national team, welcomed the move as a significant milestone. She urged FIFA to officially recognize the refugee squad as the legitimate Afghan national team, in light of the ongoing ban on women’s football enforced by the Afghanistan Football Federation.

Human rights advocates have echoed Popal’s call. Andrea Florence, director of the Sport & Rights Alliance, highlighted that Afghan women remain barred from playing football under Taliban rule, and called on FIFA to take stronger steps to uphold gender equality in the sport.

FIFA’s new refugee team initiative represents a bold step toward safeguarding the rights and futures of Afghan women athletes, while setting a powerful precedent for international sports bodies in addressing systemic discrimination and supporting displaced talent.