FIFA Restores Afghanistan Women’s Football Team Return

FIFA has approved the return of the Afghanistan women’s national football team to international competitions. The decision was made by the FIFA Council after changes were made to its governance rules, in coordination with the Asian Football Confederation.
The team has been living and training in exile since 2021 due to the situation in Afghanistan. Now, they will be allowed to play again in international matches, including qualifiers and friendly games.
Because of security concerns in their home country, the team will not play matches in Afghanistan. Instead, their “home” games will be held at neutral locations in other countries.
FIFA has also announced that it will support the team financially and technically for up to two years. This help is meant to support their return to international football and help them rebuild their team structure.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the decision is an important step. He explained that players should not be excluded from football because of situations beyond their control.
This move is seen as a major development for women’s football and is expected to give Afghan women players a chance to compete again on the world stage after several years of uncertainty.