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.
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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.”
