FIFA: Afghan women’s refugee team is partial solution but not official recognition

Statements from Afghan Women Footballers and Sport & Rights Alliance

(Amsterdam, 9 May 2025) – Responding to the FIFA Council’s decision to establish an Afghan Women’s Refugee Team (AWRT), Afghan football players and the Sport & Rights Alliance said:

“We are proud to be part of history in helping create FIFA’s first-ever refugee football team,” said Khalida Popal, founder of the Afghanistan Women’s National Team and Girl Power Organization. “We are happy that FIFA has created a pathway for Afghan players to finally return to the field, but remain hopeful FIFA can amend its Statutes to provide official recognition for our players as the Afghanistan Women’s National Team.”

“This first step from FIFA to create an Afghan Women’s Refugee Team is a testament to the tireless advocacy and persistence of the Afghan women players,” said Andrea Florence, executive director of the Sport & Rights Alliance. “Yet it is important to note that this does not fully address the ongoing gender discrimination by the Afghanistan Football Federation as it continues to ban women from playing and the matches of the AWRT will not count toward their official ranking. ”

“We have already lost the chance to compete in two World Cups, and this will not change that,” said Mursal Sadat, AWNT player. “We urge FIFA and all its Member Associations to take all measures necessary to stop enabling the ongoing gender discrimination against the Afghanistan Women’s National Team, and to use their power to ensure the women and girls still living in Afghanistan are not forgotten.”

The Sport & Rights Alliance remains committed to advocate alongside the Afghanistan Women’s National Team until FIFA upholds its commitments to human rights and gender equity through official recognition and financial support for the team.

***

To learn more about the Afghanistan Women’s National Team and their fight for recognition, read the Sport & Rights Alliance’s report: ‘It’s not just a game. It’s part of who I am’: Afghan Women Footballers’ Fight for the Right to Play.” 

Related news

“We’re building a lasting movement of resistance.”

“We’re building a lasting movement of resistance.”

Workshop Recap: Dynamics of Abuse – Gender Based Violence The month of March marks International Women’s Month – a time to remember and honor the historical fight of women around the world on issues that challenges their existence. Committed to our goals of amplifying women and girls’ voices and their experiences in sport, the Athletes […]

READ MORE

Image shows the arms of six players wearing read jerseys and black sleeves huddled with their hands together.

FIFA: Recognize, Support Afghan Women’s Team in Exile

New Report Details Afghan Women Footballers’ Fight for Right to Play (Amsterdam, March 25, 2025) – The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) should act to stop the ongoing discrimination against Afghan women footballers living in exile and facilitate their return to international competition, the Sport & Rights Alliance said in a report released today. […]

READ MORE

Related resources

Aerial shot of four crew rowers on teal water with Title: Behind the Statistics with blue highlight and eyebrow header above

Episode 2: “Behind the Statistics”

Understanding the data on abuse in sports Watch the second episode of our three-part series exploring scientific data on violence in sports: “Behind the Statistics.” In this video, we dive into prevalence studies and associated factors that put some groups of athletes at higher risk. Led by Dr Aurelie Pankowiak, postdoctoral researcher at the Institute […]

READ MORE

“We’re building a lasting movement of resistance.”

“We’re building a lasting movement of resistance.”

Workshop Recap: Dynamics of Abuse – Gender Based Violence The month of March marks International Women’s Month – a time to remember and honor the historical fight of women around the world on issues that challenges their existence. Committed to our goals of amplifying women and girls’ voices and their experiences in sport, the Athletes […]

READ MORE

Join the Network

Sport has the potential to be a catalyst for human development, unity, and freedom, but too often it instead brings harm to its athletes, fans, and communities. We exist to uncover and rectify the many abuses that exist both in and around sport. We aim to transform sports into an authentic force for good.