FIFA Names Pauline Hamill as First Coach of Afghan Women’s Refugee Team
FIFA has appointed former Scotland international Pauline Hamill as the inaugural head coach of the newly formed Afghan women’s refugee soccer team, the global football body announced Friday.
The team, established in May following the approval of the “FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football,” is composed of Afghan female players who have fled their home country and resettled abroad due to the Taliban’s ban on women’s sports.
Hamill, 52, earned 141 caps for Scotland during her playing career and has coached Scotland’s U-17 and U-19 women’s teams. Most recently, she served as head coach of the Saudi Arabia U-20 women’s national team.
“This is a unique job. It’s way beyond the realms of a normal coaching job,” Hamill said in a FIFA media release. “Every player involved has a story to tell about their personal journey in football.”
FIFA said Hamill will lead three talent identification camps to form a team that will compete in international friendly matches. The program is initially set to run for one year.
The refugee team aims to provide displaced Afghan women with an opportunity to continue playing soccer at a competitive level. Afghanistan’s women’s national teams are no longer recognized by the country’s domestic federation since the Taliban took power in 2021 and banned women’s participation in sports.
FIFA said many of the Afghan players have faced significant hardship but remain committed to pursuing their athletic ambitions in exile.
