Afghan women's footballers have welcomed a FIFA ruling that allows them to compete in official international matches for the first time since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021, according to reporting by ABC News Australia.
The rule change represents a significant shift for the displaced squad, whose members have been living in exile since the Taliban's return to power effectively ended women's sport inside the country.
Mina Ahmadi, speaking to ABC News Australia, described the decision as a deeply personal milestone for the team.
"Justice is served," Ahmadi said, calling the development "very emotional" for the players.
Under the Taliban, women and girls have been banned from most forms of public life, including education beyond primary school, most forms of employment, and participation in sport. The Afghan women's football team was among numerous female sporting groups effectively disbanded after the group took power.
What the FIFA ruling changes
The rule change allows the Afghan women's national team to participate in official FIFA-sanctioned internationals while its players remain based outside Afghanistan. The decision gives the exiled squad a formal pathway to continue representing the country at the international level despite being unable to operate within their home nation's borders.
The ruling is seen as a recognition of the team's continued existence and legitimacy as a national side, even as the Taliban government exercises control over the territory of Afghanistan itself.
A team in exile
Many members of the Afghan women's football squad fled the country in the chaotic days surrounding the Taliban's takeover, which coincided with the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces. Players and officials have since been scattered across multiple countries.
The journey to securing the right to compete officially has been a long one for the players, many of whom had feared they might never again represent Afghanistan in any formal capacity.
Ahmadi's characterization of the ruling as justice being served reflects the broader sense among the players that their right to play - and to exist as a national team - has been formally acknowledged by football's global governing body.
The development adds to broader international pressure on the Taliban over its treatment of women and girls. Several countries and international organizations have continued to call on the Taliban to reverse bans on female education and public participation, so far with limited effect.
FIFA has not been immune to scrutiny over how it navigates issues of human rights and governance across its member associations, and the ruling on the Afghan women's team is likely to be seen as a step toward supporting athletes caught in politically untenable situations.
