A group of former players from Afghanistan’s national women’s football team—forced into exile after the Taliban seized power in 2021—have returned to the pitch in the UK, reclaiming a space that was once violently taken from them.
According to Reuters, the players gathered at FIFA’s talent identification camp in St. George’s Park, an event they describe as far more than a training session—it is a symbol of defiance, resilience, and hope.
Despite the hardships of displacement and the pain of leaving their homeland, these women have kept football alive as a voice of protest and freedom.
Elaha Safdari, a former national team goalkeeper, shared a heartbreaking memory of the early days of Taliban rule:
“When the Taliban came, I had to burn my sports gear and trophies and delete my social media accounts because being a woman in football was a crime. Today, after four years, stepping back onto the field is filled with love and joy.”
This camp is part of a FIFA initiative to build a 23-player team of Afghan refugee women, led by Scottish coach Pauline Hamill. FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the effort as “an important step in the right direction.”
Najma Arefi, another player who fled Afghanistan at 18, expressed the raw injustice Afghan women face:
“A dog in Kabul’s streets has more rights than a woman. We want football to be the voice of Afghan girls and to show the world they are not forgotten. Even if the world closes its eyes, we are still here—and we are not afraid.”
While Afghanistan’s men’s national team continues to compete internationally, the Taliban-controlled Football Federation has completely banned women from playing sports.
Safdari stressed that Afghan women athletes are not just seeking temporary opportunities:
“We want FIFA to officially recognize us as the Afghan team in exile and let us represent our country with pride.”
