Playing at Soccer Aid gives women a voice
Afghanistan-born footballer Nadia Nadim says she wants to represent women "who don't have access and a voice" when she takes part in this year's Soccer Aid.
Nadim fled Afghanistan for Europe with her mother and four sisters when she was 11 after her father was executed by the Taliban.
She took up football at a refugee camp and went on to have a stellar career, including playing for Manchester City and representing Denmark.
Following the Taliban's return to power in 2021, women's rights in Afghanistan have been severely restricted, and they are banned from competitive sports.
It has led to fierce debate over Afghanistan's sporting status, with calls for England's men's cricket team to boycott their Champions Trophy match last month.
Nadim, 37, says that Soccer Aid presents a chance to reach a different type of sporting audience - and that through it, she hopes to make more people aware of the issues women have accessing sport in Afghanistan and beyond.
"I think it's very important, me being there represents what is possible," she told BBC Sport. "It doesn't even have to be Afghan girls. For me, it is about representing women who don't have access and a voice.
"I want to inspire, but also show the ones in power that if someone is given a second chance it can be beautiful.
"It is important to create that awareness, to all the audience, and to be up to date as to what is going on around the world."
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Nadim will form part of the Rest of the World XI to take an on England side co-managed by Wayne Rooney and Tyson Fury at Old Trafford on Sunday, 15 June to raise money for children's charity Unicef.
The 37-year-old will be unusual among participants as she is still an active professional sportsperson, playing for AC Milan in the women's Serie A.
Nadim joined at the start of the 2024-25 season after a career at the top level in Europe and the USA, and says she is enjoying the challenge of playing at a club, and in a league, which is developing.
Serie A Femminile is ranked as the fifth-best league in Europe by Uefa co-efficient, while Milan were only formed in 2018 and have not won a major trophy.
"It is very different from other women's leagues [I have played in] - they are still trying to find their way," said Nadim.
"I like challenges. I like when you have to fight for things. The reward you get afterwards are better.
"We need to change the women's game and improve it. By going to Italy, I wanted to do something for Milan. They have a big men's club - I thought I could do something for women."
Milan have made one significant change this season for their women's team with a pioneering maternity policy. If a player becomes pregnant during the final year of their contract, the club will automatically offer a 12-month extension to ensure financial security.
"So many female athletes still have to choose - if they start a family, they won't be on a contract and could be out for a year or two," said Nadim.
"This allows you to still compete at the highest level. I know Milan is one of the highest teams in Europe to do this. In the US, you can freeze your eggs at some clubs - European teams need that mentality.
"Having these kind of measures make it easier to be a top athlete and feel you can start a family."
Nadim spent a season and a half at Manchester City, leaving in January 2019 - and says she is amazed at the growth of the women's game in England since, helped by the Lionesses' success in winning Euro 2022 on home territory.
In recent seasons, the staging of Women's Super League matches at Premier League stadiums has become standard practice - the Manchester derby will take place at Old Trafford in May.
But for Nadim, this will be the first time she has played at Manchester United's ground.
"A lot has happened in England since Euro 2022. The mentality has switched and it is beautiful to see," she said.
"It makes me proud to see how far the England women's game has moved. And is well deserved. We make the same sacrifices [as men], the minimum you expect is to be treated equally.
"Italy is behind where England was a few years ago. Not only the league itself, but the mentality about how women's football has been seen. It was something which was worked on when I was in England, so it will take time.
"I've been to a lot of Man Utd games but never been on the field, so now I'm going to experience from the other side.
"My husband is a really big United fan, so he's even more excited than me."
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