Afghanistan’s women’s national football team is set to play its first international match in five years, facing the Cook Islands in a training camp in Auckland, New Zealand, according to ABC News.
The match is scheduled to take place this week, although organizers have not announced an exact date.
The fixture marks a significant milestone for the Afghan women’s team, whose players have largely lived in exile since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021 and imposed sweeping restrictions on women’s participation in sports and public life.
For several years, FIFA did not recognize the exiled squad as Afghanistan’s official women’s national team, leaving its players unable to compete in international competitions under the Afghan flag.
That changed in April, when FIFA approved the team’s eligibility to participate in international matches as the Afghanistan women’s national team. However, the Afghanistan Football Federation, which operates under Taliban, has not recognized the squad.
The team’s return to international competition follows years of advocacy by players and supporters seeking official recognition.
Seven months ago, members of the squad competed in a tournament known as Unite, where they defeated Libya while not formally representing Afghanistan.
The upcoming match against the Cook Islands will be the team’s first appearance as Afghanistan’s recognized women’s national team since the Taliban’s return to power.
