FIFA Pledges Support for Afghan Women’s Football Team but Stops Short of Recognition

The Afghanistan Women’s National Football Team remains excluded from international competitions, as FIFA's plan to assist Afghan women athletes lacks official recognition for the exiled team.

FIFA announced plans to provide training camps, staff, and friendly matches for Afghan women footballers but has not granted official recognition to the exiled Afghanistan Women’s National Football Team (AWNT).
The team will miss the 2026 Asian Cup Qualifiers, which determine entry to the 2027 Women’s World Cup, marking their exclusion from international competitions for four years.
FIFA regulations require recognition from the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan Football Federation, which refuses to acknowledge women’s sports due to the Taliban’s ban.
The AWNT and its supporters, including Malala Yousafzai and global advocacy groups, continue to call for FIFA to officially recognize the team and provide financial support for training and competition.
The International Olympic Committee set a precedent by recognizing an Afghan Olympic Committee in exile, enabling Afghan women athletes to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics despite Taliban restrictions.