Four years since they last played an official match ahead of the devastation, destruction and displacement caused by the return of the Taliban, Afghanistan’s women are ready to play for their country once again.
The FIFA Unites: Women’s Series will see the newly formed Afghanistan women’s refugee football team play against Chad, Libya and hosts the United Arab Emirates from October 23 to 29. While the games do matter, sending a message to the oppressive rulers of their homeland matters even more.
“There are a lot of emotions coming up, a mix of excitement and looking forward to the tournament, but also, at the same time, it’s a big responsibility,” defender Najma Arefi told DW.
“It’s not just about wearing the jersey of the Afghan women’s team. It’s also about representing so many of the Afghan women that have been silenced and haven’t got any voice to share it with the world. They have been banned from every single human right.”
Since the Taliban retook power in 2021 following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces, women and girls in the country have had their rights stripped almost entirely. They cannot leave the house without a close male chaperone or be educated beyond a primary school level, and face brutal punishments for any number of everyday actions.
Life changed overnight
Sport, which had started to blossom for women and girls in the 20 years since the previous Taliban regime, was also banned. For women like Arefi, 17 at the time, leaving was the only option that made sense.
“I lived for about one month under the Taliban regime. It was a nightmare as a girl. In my family I had three younger sisters as well. One of the biggest issues at that time was the Taliban soldiers were getting married to young girls [against their will]. The news was spreading and my parents were very, very worried what to do with us,” she said.
Many of the players that will make up the Afghanistan players had not seen each other for yearsImage: Kelly Defina/FIFA/Getty Images
“Being in the sport field was making it more risky and dangerous for us to live at that time. I wasn’t even able to move to get out of the house to go shopping or do anything. I was just like in a prison.”
Doubts over who can watch as tournament beckons
Arefi, who has now settled in England, has tried to stay in touch with as many family members and friends who remain in Afghanistan as she can. But the Taliban’s mass restrictions of social media access and shutdown of the internet at the end of September have left Afghans, and women in particular, isolated.
“We are very hopeful that they can watch us [the tournament will be streamed live by FIFA — Editor’s note], and they can see us as an inspiration for themselves, because at the moment, there are so many things going wrong in Afghanistan,” she said.
The tournament marks a significant step toward readmission into the FIFA fold, which has been a priority for the female footballers who managed to escape. Led by former captain Khalida Popal, many young footballers have worked tirelessly to promote the cause.
A refugee team playing in the regional leagues in Melbourne, Australia, have served as a de facto Afghanistan team but were not recognized by the game’s global governors. That changed in May, when FIFA announced “a comprehensive strategy to support Afghan women to participate in football, whether they live in, or are based outside, the country.”
Afghan footballers find safe haven in Australia
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That strategy has led to this month’s tournament and the announcement of the first official Afghanistan squad since 2021. Of the 23 players who will travel to Dubai, 13 are based in Australia, five in the UK, three in Portugal and two in Italy. They will be coached by Pauline Hamill, a former Scotland international.
Reunion for displaced team
Many of the squad played together in their homeland, and Arefi said the chance to play together again at a pretournament selection camp at the English Football Association’s headquarters was an emotional occasion.
“The camp we had in St. George’s Park was a reunion. Some of the girls came from different countries, and it was like a warm hug for us to see each other after such a long time,” she said. “When we step onto the pitch, it didn’t feel like we have been apart for such a long time, because football reconnected us again as a team and allowed us to show the resilience and the sisterhood we have.”
Arefi is balancing her football with the education she was denied in Afghanistan. Her experiences have driven her to study criminal justice and social work, and she plans to go to university next year.
“I want to be a human rights lawyer, to be an advocate for the women and girls that cannot do it, and use these opportunities I have here.”
Her message to the Taliban is clear: “We are still here. We are still fighting for the voice that you are taking away from us.”
The next step in that fight will be the match against Chad in Dubai on October 23.
Edited by: Chuck Penfold
