Afghanistan women players fight to compete in World Cup qualifying after fleeing Taliban rule
Afghanistan 's exiled women's football team have urged athletes worldwide to stand in solidarity with them as they fight for their right to compete after being excluded from World Cup qualifying competitions since the Taliban takeover in 2021.
Many players from the Afghanistan women's national side fled the country at the time for fear of persecution after the Taliban took control of the Afghan government.
The women's team has since been unable to compete internationally as FIFA rules require recognition by a national federation, with the Taliban-controlled Afghan Football Federation banning women's sports.
The Taliban say they respect women's rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law and local customs and that internal matters should be addressed locally.
At a press briefing hosted by the Sports & Rights Alliance on Tuesday, Afghanistan captain Mursal Sadat highlighted the importance of global unity in the fight for gender equality in sport.
"If there is one thing that I would request from the athletes all around the world, it would be it is time that we unite together. And it's time that women support other women," she said.
"It would give us a lot of inspiration and support because you guys have a voice to use and that platform is there to be used."
Sadat added that even a short video posted by athletes on social media would be a sign of solidarity against gender-based violence taking place in Afghanistan.
Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on Afghanistan, said he stood with Afghan women footballers in their call for FIFA to take action.
"I support the call by Sports & Rights Alliance for FIFA to take a strong stand against systematic gender oppression and ensure that Afghan women footballers in exile, who are barred from playing in Afghanistan, can return to international competition," Bennet wrote on X on Wednesday.
AWNT founder and former captain Khalida Popal said the players were not fighting against global soccer's governing body FIFA, but rather seeking collaboration.
"Our platform is sport. Together with everyone, with the media, with individuals, with organisations, and with governing bodies and including FIFA, because we are not fighting against FIFA or any other organisation," Popal said.
"We want to work together to find the best solutions as using Afghanistan as an example to make sure the other countries, the other nations don't face what we have faced."
In 2020, Afghanistan had 25 contracted women football players, most of whom now live in Australia.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
16 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Tuesday's briefing: Bellamy defiant after Wales loss as Scotland bounce back
England look to shrug off their struggle to sink minnows Andorra with head coach Thomas Tuchel aware there is plenty of room for improvement ahead of their clash with Senegal. Bellamy's pride in Lions ⏰ FT | 🇧🇪 4-3 🏴 An enthralling encounter comes to an end in Brussels. 💻 — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 9, 2025 Craig Bellamy refused to be downhearted after tasting defeat for the first time as Wales boss after an extraordinary seven-goal thriller in Belgium. Wales clawed back from 3-0 down to draw level in a match blighted by lengthy VAR checks before Kevin De Bruyne broke the visitors' hearts by sealing a late 4-3 win for the hosts. The defeat meant Wales were knocked off the top of World Cup qualifying group J by North Macedonia, following their 1-0 win in Kazakhstan. But Bellamy said: 'There's a lot of life in this group and today I saw a lot of life in this team. We aren't going anywhere. 'I will have a couple of weeks now of recharging, but I'm beyond proud and really excited about the future.' Clarke's delight as Scots get back on track Che Adams was a hat-trick hero for Scotland in Liechtenstein (Steve Welsh/PA) Scotland head coach Steve Clarke was satisfied with the way his side bounced back from their 3-1 defeat to Iceland at Hampden Park as they strolled to a 4-0 friendly win in Liechtenstein. Having only scored once in his 19 previous internationals, Che Adams hit a hat-trick and George Adams grabbed his first international goal to restore a mood of optimism in the Scotland camp. 'Our players had a little bit of anger in the performance at the start of the game – they knew that they'd let themselves down in the previous match,' said Clarke. 'So, to start well and get the early goal makes it more comfortable and it's nice to build on that with another three goals. Teams maybe win here but not too many come and score four goals.' Tuchel wants England improvement Thomas Tuchel watched England labour to beat Andorra (Bradley Collyer/PA) Thomas Tuchel has conceded England still have plenty of improvements to make as they prepare to face Senegal in a friendly at Wembley. The new head coach was far from pleased with the way his side laboured to a 1-0 win against minnows Andorra in their World Cup qualifier at the weekend. Ahead of their clash with the African side, Tuchel said: 'We need to improve, for sure. We need to improve in connections, in support, in interactions in the group. 'I feel we are too isolated on the pitch. We have not clicked yet. I don't see it has clicked between the players. 'We haven't done that yet, but it's also not the moment to look only on the negative side. We have a lot of positives to take away in training and in the sessions I see a lot of it, and it will obviously take a little bit to translate it to the pitch.' Spurs close in on Frank Thomas Frank is set to become Tottenham's new manager (Bradley Collyer/PA) Tottenham are closing in on making Brentford boss Thomas Frank their next head coach, the PA news agency understands. Spurs sacked Ange Postecoglou on Friday, despite Europa League success, and quickly set their sights on Frank – who has gained admirers for his work over an impressive seven-year period at the west London club. After positive discussions over the weekend, there is a growing confidence that Frank – whose contract contains a release clause reported to be in the region of £10million – will be the man to replace Postecoglou. What's on today? England face Senegal in a Wembley friendly as Thomas Tuchel continues to survey his options for their continuing World Cup qualifying campaign. The Republic of Ireland are in friendly action in Luxembourg while Northern Ireland host Scotland's recent conquerors Iceland at Windsor Park.
South Wales Argus
22 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Tuesday's briefing: Bellamy defiant after Wales loss as Scotland bounce back
Meanwhile, Tottenham continue to close in on Brentford's Thomas Frank as their new boss and appear willing to meet the latter's £10million release clause to get their man. England look to shrug off their struggle to sink minnows Andorra with head coach Thomas Tuchel aware there is plenty of room for improvement ahead of their clash with Senegal. Bellamy's pride in Lions ⏰ FT | 🇧🇪 4-3 🏴 An enthralling encounter comes to an end in Brussels. 💻 — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 9, 2025 Craig Bellamy refused to be downhearted after tasting defeat for the first time as Wales boss after an extraordinary seven-goal thriller in Belgium. Wales clawed back from 3-0 down to draw level in a match blighted by lengthy VAR checks before Kevin De Bruyne broke the visitors' hearts by sealing a late 4-3 win for the hosts. The defeat meant Wales were knocked off the top of World Cup qualifying group J by North Macedonia, following their 1-0 win in Kazakhstan. But Bellamy said: 'There's a lot of life in this group and today I saw a lot of life in this team. We aren't going anywhere. 'I will have a couple of weeks now of recharging, but I'm beyond proud and really excited about the future.' Clarke's delight as Scots get back on track Che Adams was a hat-trick hero for Scotland in Liechtenstein (Steve Welsh/PA) Scotland head coach Steve Clarke was satisfied with the way his side bounced back from their 3-1 defeat to Iceland at Hampden Park as they strolled to a 4-0 friendly win in Liechtenstein. Having only scored once in his 19 previous internationals, Che Adams hit a hat-trick and George Adams grabbed his first international goal to restore a mood of optimism in the Scotland camp. 'Our players had a little bit of anger in the performance at the start of the game – they knew that they'd let themselves down in the previous match,' said Clarke. 'So, to start well and get the early goal makes it more comfortable and it's nice to build on that with another three goals. Teams maybe win here but not too many come and score four goals.' Tuchel wants England improvement Thomas Tuchel watched England labour to beat Andorra (Bradley Collyer/PA) Thomas Tuchel has conceded England still have plenty of improvements to make as they prepare to face Senegal in a friendly at Wembley. The new head coach was far from pleased with the way his side laboured to a 1-0 win against minnows Andorra in their World Cup qualifier at the weekend. Ahead of their clash with the African side, Tuchel said: 'We need to improve, for sure. We need to improve in connections, in support, in interactions in the group. 'I feel we are too isolated on the pitch. We have not clicked yet. I don't see it has clicked between the players. 'We haven't done that yet, but it's also not the moment to look only on the negative side. We have a lot of positives to take away in training and in the sessions I see a lot of it, and it will obviously take a little bit to translate it to the pitch.' Spurs close in on Frank Thomas Frank is set to become Tottenham's new manager (Bradley Collyer/PA) Tottenham are closing in on making Brentford boss Thomas Frank their next head coach, the PA news agency understands. Spurs sacked Ange Postecoglou on Friday, despite Europa League success, and quickly set their sights on Frank – who has gained admirers for his work over an impressive seven-year period at the west London club. After positive discussions over the weekend, there is a growing confidence that Frank – whose contract contains a release clause reported to be in the region of £10million – will be the man to replace Postecoglou. What's on today? England face Senegal in a Wembley friendly as Thomas Tuchel continues to survey his options for their continuing World Cup qualifying campaign. The Republic of Ireland are in friendly action in Luxembourg while Northern Ireland host Scotland's recent conquerors Iceland at Windsor Park.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Stephen A. Smith wades into Simone Biles' trans feud with Riley Gaines... and reveals why swimmer went too far
Stephen A. Smith has waded into Simone Biles' trans feud with Riley Gaines - saying the former college swimmer went 'too far' in her spat with the Olympian before admitting that Gaines has 'the right to feel' the way she does. Biles and Gaines, who has staunchly advocated against transgender women competing in women's sports, began arguing after Gaines retweeted a picture of Minnesota team Champlin Park celebrating the state high school title that they won with transgender pitcher Marissa Rothenberger on the team. Gaines wrote that the championship was 'to be expected when your star player is a boy,' before Biles responded by calling her 'truly sick' and even comparing her appearance to a man's. Gaines later responded by referencing the horrific sexual abuse Biles and other gymnasts suffered at the hands of pedophile doctor Larry Nassar. 'All the horrific sexual abuse @Simmone_Biles witnessed and spoke out against caused by one man, yet believes women should be forced to strip naked in front of men to validate the man's feelings,' Gaines wrote. 'You know how many gold medals you'd have if your 'inclusive' dream came true? Zero.' That remark in particular earned a strong rebuke from Smith, who addressed the topic on his 'Stephen A. Smith Show' on Monday. 'That's going a bit too far. Talking about transgender women competing in sports is one issue. Using a guy like Larry Nassar, one of the most despicable human beings we've ever witnessed on this earth... to go that low - Gaines, you lost all credibility. Smith continued by calling her remarks 'cruel' - before admitting that her broader position 'should give us all cause to pause. 'The reality is that it is a disservice to women in a lot of people's eyes, that men transitioning to women get to compete in women's sports,' Smith said, before referencing the dominance of Gaines' ex-college rival Lia Thomas. 'What Riley Gaines is talking about does seem a bit unfair, she has a right to express those thoughts without Simone Biles coming at her that way,' Smith said. He also added that there are 'an abundance of women who have a right to feel the way to feel how Riley Gaines feels.' The popular sports commentator, who said that the debate was about competition in sports rather allowing people to 'live and let live,' later posited than their should be a separate division for trans women to compete in. Gaines' campaigning has won praise from Donald Trump , who welcomed her to the White House before signing the 'Keeping Men out of Women's Sports' executive order in February. Gaines shakes Donald Trump's hand on the day he signed an executive order on trans athletes However, Biles branded her a 'sore loser' on Friday night as she referenced her tying with Thomas for fifth place at the 200 Freestyle finals at the 2022 National Championships. 'You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!!,' Biles said after Gaines' initial post about Rothenberger. 'But instead… You bully them… One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!' She then tweeted at Gaines again, saying: 'Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.' Gaines replied: 'This is actually so disappointing. It's not my job or the job of any woman to figure out how to include men in our spaces. You can uplift men stealing championships in women's sports with YOUR platform. Men don't belong in women's sports and I say that with my full chest.' She continued: 'My take is the least controversial take on the planet. Simone Biles being a male-apologist at the expense of young girls' dreams? Didn't have that on my bingo card. Maybe she could compete in pommel horse and rings in 2028.' Gaines then addressed Biles mocking her appearance, saying: 'And the subtle hint at 'body-shaming' ???? Plzzzz I'm 5'5'.' After referencing Nassar's sexual abuse, Gaines actually doubled down on those remarks, sharing a clip of Biles testifying before Senate about the abuse suffered at the hands of the former team doctor. Alongside it, she posted a screengrab of Biles' initial post criticizing her. 'Simone Biles when she had to endure a predatory man Vs Simone Biles when other girls have to endure predatory men,' she wrote. Nassar was a leading doctor at Michigan State and with USA Gymnastics, but used his position within those organizations to sexually abuse young women under the guise of treatment at the now-closed Karolyi Ranch National Team Training Center in Huntsville, Texas.
