Afghan Women’s Football Team Plays First Official Match After FIFA Recognition 

 

Tawazon – Afghanistan’s women’s football team in exile, returned to international competition on Thursday and played its first official match after receiving FIFA recognition.

The 23-member squad, competing under the name “Afghan Women United,” played the Cook Islands in Auckland, losing the friendly match 1–0.

Despite the defeat, players and supporters described the match as a landmark moment for Afghan women’s sport.

Following the collapse of the former Afghan government and the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the country’s women’s football team was disbanded and women’s sports actizvities were effectively banned.

Members of the national women’s football team sought refuge in countries including Australia, Canada and several European nations.

In April, FIFA amended its regulations and granted the team eligibility to compete internationally under the name “Afghan United Women” as the official representative of Afghanistan.