FIFA allows Afghan women's football team to compete internationally

Kabul. Afghan women footballers, who have been in exile for about five years, will now be able to represent their country at the international level. The world football governing body FIFA has made such a decision by making a historic amendment to the rules. 

According to this decision made by the FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver, Canada on Tuesday, Afghan women players will be able to compete for the first time in official international matches with full recognition as the "Afghanistan Women's National Team".

Previously, according to FIFA rules, the approval of the concerned country's football association was required to recognize any national team. However, after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Afghanistan's football association refused to recognize the women's team, due to which the players were excluded from international competition. The new amendment has given the FIFA Council the right to independently register or recognize national teams in special circumstances.

Such a provision aims to prevent players from being deprived of international football due to reasons beyond their control. Currently, dozens of Afghan women players are living in various countries including Australia, the United States, and Europe. This decision has opened the door for them to return to the international stadium.