FIFA has cleared the way for Afghanistan women's national soccer team to be recognised and represent the Taliban-ruled country in global tournaments. The move, which comes four years after Taliban took over the Asian country for the second time in history, is too late as per the players.
Despite FIFA's pledge to Sport &amp; Rights Alliance (SRA) - a group which has been putting the cause for the Afghan women's team to be recognised, the players won't be able to participate in Asian Cup qualifiers. The regional tournament begins in two days time and the outcome will determine the eligibility to play in 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Also Read: <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/football/argentina-celebrate-2026-fifa-world-cup-qualification-with-4-1-thrashing-of-nemesis-brazil-8891785" aria-label="Argentina celebrate 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification with 4-1 thrashing of nemesis Brazil">Argentina celebrate 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification with 4-1 thrashing of nemesis Brazil</a>
FIFA, meanwhile, has shown positive attitude towards the cause for the first time and has promised to organise training camps, provide coaches, technical staff and medical team as well as overseeing of friendly matches for the team.
Players, while happy, lament that their previous four years were wasted due to FIFA's inaction.
&ldquo;The Taliban took that platform from us. Not only us: it&rsquo;s worth mentioning that it&rsquo;s the fourth educational year that women are not allowed to go to school. How can we expect the Taliban to negotiate about sports if they&rsquo;re not even allowing education for women?" national team player Mursal Sadat said as reported by UK-based news outlet the Guardian.
&ldquo;Unfortunately, FIFA&rsquo;s inaction took our platform away from us for four years. We sacrificed four years, youthful years, four years that we could have represented, four years that we could have advocated, four years in which we could have pushed the world towards bigger change for women of Afghanistan. We watched the 2023 Women&rsquo;s World Cup from the sidelines. Yet, in two days we have another draw for the Asian Cup qualifiers and we&rsquo;re still not allowed to play,&rdquo; she added.
Nevertheless, one can hope now that Afghan women soccer team will get the opportunity to perform at international level and hopefully win.

Despite FIFA's pledge to Sport & Rights Alliance - a group which has been putting the cause for the Afghan women's team to be recognised, the players won't be able to participate in Asian Cup qualifiers. Sports Football

FIFA has cleared the way for Afghanistan women's national soccer team to be recognised and represent the Taliban-ruled country in global tournaments. The move, which comes four years after Taliban took over the Asian country for the second time in history, is too late as per the players. Despite FIFA's pledge to Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) - a group which has been putting the cause for the Afghan women's team to be recognised, the players won't be able to participate in Asian Cup qualifiers. The regional tournament begins in two days time and the outcome will determine the eligibility to play in 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. Also Read: Argentina celebrate 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification with 4-1 thrashing of nemesis Brazil FIFA, meanwhile, has shown positive attitude towards the cause for the first time and has promised to organise training camps, provide coaches, technical staff and medical team as well as overseeing of friendly matches for the team. Players, while happy, lament that their previous four years were wasted due to FIFA's inaction. “The Taliban took that platform from us. Not only us: it’s worth mentioning that it’s the fourth educational year that women are not allowed to go to school. How can we expect the Taliban to negotiate about sports if they’re not even allowing education for women?" national team player Mursal Sadat said as reported by UK-based news outlet the Guardian. “Unfortunately, FIFA’s inaction took our platform away from us for four years. We sacrificed four years, youthful years, four years that we could have represented, four years that we could have advocated, four years in which we could have pushed the world towards bigger change for women of Afghanistan. We watched the 2023 Women’s World Cup from the sidelines. Yet, in two days we have another draw for the Asian Cup qualifiers and we’re still not allowed to play,” she added. Nevertheless, one can hope now that Afghan women soccer team will get the opportunity to perform at international level and hopefully win.

Too late, say players as FIFA clears way for Afghan women's football team to be recognised

Afghanistan has suspended five officials including the president of the country's football federation over allegations of sexual and physical abuse against the national women's team, officials said Sunday.

The decision comes days after President Ashraf Ghani ordered the attorney general to conduct a "thorough investigation" into what he called "shocking" claims of abuse by male officials against members of the women's team -- allegations that were first reported in Britain's Guardian newspaper.

"The attorney general's office has suspended... the president of the football federation, his deputy, the federation's secretary general, the head of goalkeepers and the head of provincial coordinators," Jamshid Rasuli, spokesman for the attorney general, told AFP.

"To conduct the investigations thoroughly, collect evidence and to ensure justice, the team of prosecutors decided to suspend these people," he said, adding that all the suspended officials were male.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Guardian cited what it described as senior figures associated with the women's team who said the abuse had taken place in Afghanistan, including at the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) headquarters, and at a training camp in Jordan in February.

The story quoted former captain Khalida Popal -- who fled the country after receiving death threats and has spoken out previously about the discrimination women face in Afghanistan -- as saying male officials were "coercing" female players.

Popal welcomed news of the suspensions, tweeting: "If we all stand together and raise our voice and become the #Voice4voiceless no one would be dare to hurt innocents. #Football is not abuse."

Safi Sadab, an AFF spokesman, told AFP the federation was ready to "cooperate with the investigation".&nbsp;

Football's world governing body FIFA has also said it was looking into the claims, while the Danish sportswear company Hummel announced it had cancelled a sponsorship deal with the team due to the allegations.

Afghanistan has made strides to promote female football -- as well as the national side, four years ago it launched its first all-women's football league that ran in parallel with the men's.

In 2017 the female teams were sidelined by a lack of funding.

Afghanistan has suspended five officials including the president of the country's football federation over allegations of sexual and physical abuse against the national women's team, officials said Sunday.

Afghanistan has suspended five officials including the president of the country's football federation over allegations of sexual and physical abuse against the national women's team, officials said Sunday. The decision comes days after President Ashraf Ghani ordered the attorney general to conduct a "thorough investigation" into what he called "shocking" claims of abuse by male officials against members of the women's team -- allegations that were first reported in Britain's Guardian newspaper. "The attorney general's office has suspended... the president of the football federation, his deputy, the federation's secretary general, the head of goalkeepers and the head of provincial coordinators," Jamshid Rasuli, spokesman for the attorney general, told AFP. "To conduct the investigations thoroughly, collect evidence and to ensure justice, the team of prosecutors decided to suspend these people," he said, adding that all the suspended officials were male. The Guardian cited what it described as senior figures associated with the women's team who said the abuse had taken place in Afghanistan, including at the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) headquarters, and at a training camp in Jordan in February. The story quoted former captain Khalida Popal -- who fled the country after receiving death threats and has spoken out previously about the discrimination women face in Afghanistan -- as saying male officials were "coercing" female players. Popal welcomed news of the suspensions, tweeting: "If we all stand together and raise our voice and become the #Voice4voiceless no one would be dare to hurt innocents. #Football is not abuse." Safi Sadab, an AFF spokesman, told AFP the federation was ready to "cooperate with the investigation". Football's world governing body FIFA has also said it was looking into the claims, while the Danish sportswear company Hummel announced it had cancelled a sponsorship deal with the team due to the allegations. Afghanistan has made strides to promote female football -- as well as the national side, four years ago it launched its first all-women's football league that ran in parallel with the men's. In 2017 the female teams were sidelined by a lack of funding.

Afghanistan football chiefs suspended over sex abuse on women's team

afghanistan-football

Afghanistan Football, News on Afghanistan Football, stories on Afghanistan Football, articles on Afghanistan Football, Afghanistan Football stories at Wion, Afghanistan Football news, Afghanistan Football latest news

afghanistan football

Too late, say players as FIFA clears way for Afghan women's football team to be recognised

Afghanistan football chiefs suspended over sex abuse on women's team