ABC News has recently reported that the Afghanistan women’s football team will take the field against the Cook Islands, a self-governing nation in free association with New Zealand, marking their first international match after five years away from international competition.
According to the report, the match will be played this week as part of a training camp in Auckland, New Zealand. However, the exact date of the fixture has not yet been announced.
Following the return of the Taliban-led interim government to power, FIFA did not recognize the team as the official Afghanistan women’s national team, and its players were excluded from international competitions.
Nevertheless, in April this year, FIFA approved the eligibility of the Afghanistan women’s team to participate in international competitions under the name “Afghanistan Women’s Football Team.” However, the Afghanistan Football Federation still does not officially recognize the team.
Seven months ago, members of the Afghanistan women’s football team—who at the time were not recognized as representing Afghanistan—participated in a tournament known as “Unite,” where they defeated Libya.
It is worth noting that the interim government in Afghanistan has banned women and girls from participating in all sports activities. As a result of these restrictions, all women’s sports teams in the country have been dissolved.
