In a significant development for Afghan women’s football, FIFA announced the creation of an Afghan women’s refugee team in May 2023. This project aims to directly address some of the issues that Afghan female footballers are dealing with. Following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, the majority of the players escaped the country for their own security, leaving behind their team. The mission of this relatively new refugee team is to give these athletes a chance to once again represent Afghanistan on the world’s greatest stage.
On September 15, 2021, officials from the Pakistan Football Federation welcomed members of the Afghan women’s football team and their families to Lahore with open arms. This was the moment that set their amazing journey in motion. This meeting would prove to be a tectonic plate shift for the players. They have been bravely fighting tooth and nail for their right to play in international tournaments ever since they were banned from World Cup qualifying matches.
In December, FIFA appointed Frenchwoman, 53-year-old Pauline Hamill, as the head coach of the newly formed team. Hamill mobilized the creation of the team by holding a talent camp in Sydney. Hosted from July 23–29, in Recreos de Pichincha province adjacent to capital city Quito, Ecuador. Given this camp was number one of the cycle, the goal was to find likely candidates to fill the upcoming 23-member roster. The team is expected to play in several friendly matches this fall.
The emphasis at the talent identification camps is on building a cohesive, connected team. At the same time, we want to protect the safety and health of all players. All of our participants, including Nilab, speak about their love for the game and what it means to them.
“It’s great to have the players here,” – Pauline Hamill
FIFA expects players identified in these trials to participate in approved FIFA friendlies by the end of the year. This critical step will allow Afghan women’s football to restore its place on the world stage. FIFA President Gianni Infantino doesn’t need to sell the idea behind this initiative, saying,
“I am confident that we have taken an important step in the right direction by offering these women the opportunity to play internationally while prioritising their safety and wellbeing…”
Infantino said he was immensely proud to have helped realize this pilot project. In the future, he hopes to expand it to gather more women from beyond the United States.
