Mahjooba Nowrouzi

Afghanistan’s women footballers, now living across countries including Australia, Britain and Portugal, reunited in New Zealand after FIFA ruled they could represent their country without Taliban approval. Players describe hiding their football careers, facing family and social pressure, fleeing Afghanistan after the Taliban’s 2021 takeover and using sport to secure safer futures for themselves and their relatives. Despite heavy rain and years without team training, they played two friendlies against the Cook Islands, losing 1–0 and 3–0. The defeats nevertheless marked a symbolic return to international football and a rejection of the restrictions imposed on Afghan women.

Afghan Women United, made up of Afghan footballers living in Australia, the United Kingdom, Portugal and elsewhere, reunited in New Zealand for training and two unofficial matches against the Cook Islands after FIFA approved its eligibility to represent Afghanistan in official competitions. The team’s members fled Afghanistan after the Taliban’s 2021 return to power, which ended women’s access to organized sport and further restricted education, work and public life. Players including Manozh Noori, Mursal Sadat and Najma Arefi describe football as a source of survival, freedom and a way to support their families, despite years of separation and difficulties obtaining travel documents. Although the team lost both matches, it views its return to the field as a historic act of resilience and hopes eventually to qualify for the World Cup and Olympic Games.

Afghan women footballers living in exile played their first matches after FIFA recognized their eligibility to represent Afghanistan in official competitions. The 23-player squad, assembled in New Zealand, lost two unofficial friendlies to the Cook Islands but viewed the games as a symbolic return after the Taliban barred women from organized sport and forced many players to flee. Players describe family pressure, persecution, displacement and the opportunities football has provided, while hoping the recognition will eventually lead to participation in World Cups and the Olympics.