KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The exiled Afghanistan women’s national football team returned to international competition on Thursday and played its first official match after receiving FIFA recognition.
The 23-member squad, competing under the name “Afghan Women United,” played the Cook Islands in Auckland, losing the friendly match 1–0. Despite the defeat, players and supporters described the match as a landmark moment for Afghan women’s sport.
The team was forced into exile following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. The hardline Islamist group subsequently banned women’s sports, leading to the disintegration of the national women’s football team and other female athletic programs.
Following the political change in Afghanistan, many players went into hiding before fleeing the country. The majority of the current squad resettled in Australia, where they have continued training and playing while advocating for their right to represent Afghanistan.
In April, FIFA amended its regulations and granted the team eligibility to compete internationally, overriding objections from the Taliban-led Afghanistan Football Federation. The decision came after sustained appeals from multiple countries, human rights organizations, and activists calling for Afghan girls to be allowed to participate in international competitions.
The squad, supported and partly funded by FIFA, had previously participated in unofficial friendlies, including matches in the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series in 2025 held in Berrechid, Morocco, in late October 2025. Thursday’s match against the Cook Islands is part of a two-game series scheduled for June 4 and June 8 in New Zealand.
Players have described the recognition as a powerful symbol of resilience and hope for Afghan women, providing a platform to represent their country despite the challenges at home. The team is now eligible for future qualifying campaigns, including for the 2028 Olympics.
