A Team in Exile: The Fight for Recognition of the Afghan Women's Football Team

Denied the Right to Play

One year out from the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia, a shadow hangs over the tournament. The Afghan women's national team, based in Australia, remains barred from playing, unrecognized by FIFA. While the Matildas prepare for the spotlight, these talented Afghan women may be forced to watch from the stands, exiled from the international stage since the Taliban takeover in August 2021.

Each player carries a complex story of ambition and displacement. Denied the right to represent their country, former international players are seeking an exemption, highlighting the failures of international institutions, contradictions in human rights policies, and the ongoing struggle for women's equality.

Finding a Home Away From Home

In 2022, as players sought refuge worldwide, a regrouped team emerged in Australia. Co-captain and defender Mursal Sadat and goalkeeper Fatima Yousufi spearheaded a joint venture with Melbourne Victory, creating the Melbourne Victory Afghan Women's Team, a beacon of hope for these talented women from a war-torn nation.

"My hopes are that we can get the recognition," Sadat states, "if not us, maybe some other girls who are more talented than us, that they can at least represent the country and be the voice for others. We just want this recognition, to be their voice, to represent our country again. So all our hard work wouldn't be thrown off the cliff just like that."

Three years after fleeing their homeland, these brave women continue their fight to play internationally, amplifying the voices of women in Afghanistan. “If I survived, if I have a voice, why shouldn’t I use it?” Sadat powerfully asks.

A Stolen Joy

For Yousufi, the memory of first kicking a ball with other girls remains vivid. “It was amazing,” she recalls, “you just feel like you’re in a world of your own.” That world is now forbidden in Afghanistan. Over 11,000 kilometres from home, Yousufi carries the weight of this loss, determined to continue her advocacy.

Recalling the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Yousufi shares a poignant memory. “Deep down I was sad,” she admits, “thinking like, there was a day I was playing on that field… listening to the anthem of my country. It's such a loss for our country.” While sadness lingered initially, it has transformed into a renewed hope to play internationally again.

A Black Mark on the Tournament?

The Taliban's control in Kabul has silenced women in sport. With no entry from the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) for the AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers, a generation of talent is at risk. John Didulica, Director of Football at Melbourne Victory, emphasizes the urgency: "It's absolutely critical that Afghanistan enters that qualification phase, or all the sacrifices the girls have put in over the past three years will be lost."

Didulica calls for international bodies to step up and support the players. "It's unthinkable," he argues, "that we're hosting a tournament on Australian soil… that would be the end product of not allowing women from a certain country to compete. That would be a black mark… and as a nation I don’t think it’s something we should stand for.”

Support from Afar and a Symbol of Hope

From Denmark, former national captain Khalida Popal continues to champion the team's cause. She describes their strength and resilience in the face of unimaginable trauma, emphasizing that their fight for recognition represents justice for those who have suffered and hope for future generations.

Popal highlights the symbolic power of the team: “Our uniform was a great symbol of activism… That is now changed to burqas and that’s what Taliban wants.” She urges FIFA to recognize the team in exile, sending a powerful message that the football community stands in solidarity with Afghan women.

Calls for Action and a Difficult Path Forward

Despite support from various organizations and individuals, the Afghan players have been frustrated by the lack of assistance from Football Australia (FA). Mursal Sadat, now in her fourth year in Australia, points out the discrepancy: FA has never met with the team, while other sporting bodies have embraced Afghan women athletes. FA’s statement to ABC Sport offered praise but stopped short of confirming direct support, emphasizing recognition for teams that qualify through established channels.

The players’ struggle continues, highlighting the contradictions in FIFA’s human rights policies. While FIFA states its commitment to promoting human rights and anti-discrimination, it defers to the AFF, effectively denying the Afghan women’s team the right to compete.

A Future for the Girls of Afghanistan

Despite the obstacles, the spirit of the Afghan women's team remains unbroken. "We're here for you. We will never give up," Sadat vows, speaking to the next generation of girls in Afghanistan.

Yousufi echoes this sentiment: "Keep your hopes high. Until the end I’ll have my voice." Their fight is not just for themselves, but for the women and girls back home, living under oppression, holding onto the dream of a future where they too can freely play the game they love.