FIFA And AFC Okay Afghan Women To Represent Their Country In Official Matches

AFOLABI SAHEED OLAWALE

The FIFA Council has approved a momentous amendment to the FIFA Governance Regulations, which enables Afghan female players – including members of the FIFA-funded and -supported Afghan Women United squad – to represent their country in official international matches as part of FIFA competitions.

The historic decision empowers the FIFA Council, in consultation with the relevant confederation, to establish and approve the registration of a national or representative team under exceptional circumstances where a Member Association is unable to do so. The ultimate aim is to ensure that players are not excluded from international football due to situations beyond their control, in line with FIFA’s statutory principles of universality, inclusion and non-discrimination.

“The FIFA Council today approved a momentous amendment to the FIFA Governance Regulations, which enables Afghan female players – including members of the FIFA-funded and FIFA-supported Afghan Women United squad – to represent their country in official international matches as part of FIFA competitions in agreement with the relevant local confederation, in this case the Asian Football Confederation,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

“This is a powerful and unprecedented step in world sport. FIFA has listened to these players as part of its responsibility to protect the right of every girl and woman to play football and to represent who they are. By enabling Afghan women to compete for their country in official matches, we are turning principles into action. FIFA is proud to lead this historic initiative and to stand alongside these courageous players on and off the pitch.”

This reform builds on the FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football, endorsed by the FIFA Council in May last year, and follows the creation of Afghan Women United as a FIFA-supported team providing structured playing opportunities for Afghan women footballers living outside the country. Now, for the first time, these Afghan female players will be able to represent their country in official matches with full sporting recognition.

Members of the independent advisory group for the FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football welcomed the move as a transformative moment.

“This decision recognises Afghan women footballers not as victims of circumstance, but as elite players with the right to compete, be seen and be respected,” said Nadia Nadim, who was born in Afghanistan and went on to win over 100 caps for Denmark. “It shows what is possible when sport is guided by values and leadership.”

Former Afghanistan captain Khalida Popal added: “For these players, representing Afghanistan is about identity, dignity and hope. Thanks are due to the leadership of FIFA, which listened to their biggest request and delivered a solution that no other sport has ever achieved. This moment also shows that when we stand united, we can achieve more.”

Andrea Florence, the Executive Director of the Sport & Rights Alliance, said: “This reform sets a global precedent. It demonstrates that governing bodies can adapt their rules to protect human rights when extraordinary circumstances demand it.”

Although the amendment has immediate effect, FIFA will now lead the required administrative and preparatory steps, including team registration and the establishment of an operational and sporting structure. World football’s governing body will provide all necessary resources – human, technical and financial – to ensure a safe, professional and sustainable pathway to official competition.

Support packages for Afghan Women United players will continue throughout the transition phase for up to two years, allowing the new structure to evolve while maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, performance and well-being.

The FIFA-funded and -supported team will hold their next training camp from 1 to 9 June in New Zealand, where they will also have the opportunity to face off against the Cook Islands.