FIFA Approves Formation of Afghanistan Women’s Refugee Team

FIFA has approved the creation of an officially recognised Afghanistan women’s refugee football team, marking a historic step toward supporting displaced female athletes from the war-torn nation.

The initiative, which will enter a one-year pilot phase, is aimed at allowing evacuated Afghan women footballers — many of whom fled Taliban repression — to compete in FIFA-sanctioned matches and tournaments under a unified refugee banner. This move could pave the way for similar initiatives involving other nationalities facing political or humanitarian crises.

The proposal, pending ratification by the FIFA Council, would grant the team the right to participate in recognised friendlies and competitions, with FIFA promising a secure environment focused on player safety and well-being.

“This is a landmark moment,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “FIFA is committed to giving every girl the possibility to play football, no matter their circumstances.”

Under current regulations, national teams must be recognised by their country’s football federation to compete. However, Afghanistan’s Taliban-controlled football federation does not acknowledge women’s teams, with women’s sports broadly banned across the country. As a result, Afghanistan’s women’s national side has not played an official match since 2018 and is no longer ranked in FIFA’s women’s standings.

The exclusion of Afghanistan from the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers intensified calls for FIFA to intervene. In recent months, displaced players and international supporters urged the governing body to grant them official status, allowing them to represent their homeland in exile.

Many of the Afghan women’s players now live in Australia, the UK, and various European countries after fleeing Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. According to FIFA, the organisation supported the evacuation of around 160 individuals — 70 percent of whom were women and children — in October 2021. The operation was conducted in coordination with FIFPro, the global footballers’ union.

Human rights organisations have condemned the Taliban’s treatment of women, with the United Nations warning that their actions may constitute “gender apartheid.” Despite the oppressive environment, Afghan women footballers in exile continue to campaign for recognition and the chance to play the game they love on the world stage.

FIFA’s decision represents a significant breakthrough for these athletes and could serve as a model for future refugee teams from other conflict zones.