Afghan Women’s Football Team Faces Second World Cup Exclusion as FIFA Withholds Recognition

FIFA announces support for Afghan women’s football but stops short of officially recognizing the exiled national team, barring them from international competition.

• The Afghanistan Women’s National Football Team (AWNT) will not participate in the 2026 Asian Cup Qualifiers, marking their second exclusion from World Cup-qualifying cycles since 2021.
• FIFA has outlined plans to promote football opportunities for Afghan women but has not committed to recognizing the AWNT or providing dedicated funding.
• The Taliban-controlled Afghanistan Football Federation refuses to acknowledge women’s sports, effectively blocking the AWNT’s international representation under current FIFA regulations.
• The team, now in exile, continues to advocate for recognition, with widespread global support, including from Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai and nearly 200,000 petition signatories.
• The International Olympic Committee’s recognition of an Afghan Olympic Committee in exile for the 2024 Paris Olympics contrasts with FIFA’s inaction, highlighting differing approaches to supporting Afghan women athletes.

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