Dubai – October 19, 2025 – After four years of being silenced by the oppressive Taliban regime, Afghanistan’s women’s football team is ready to make its long-awaited return to the international stage. The newly formed Afghanistan women’s refugee football team will compete in the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series, set to take place in Dubai from October 23 to 29, 2025. In this historic tournament, the team will face Chad, Libya, and the UAE – but their participation means so much more than just the games.
What Happened
The Afghanistan women’s refugee football team’s participation in the FIFA Unites tournament represents both a personal and political statement. The team, which comprises athletes who fled Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, will compete for more than just victory on the field. The games symbolize their ongoing fight for the rights of Afghan women and girls who have been stripped of their freedoms by the regime.
One of the players, defender Najma Arefi, who is now based in the UK, spoke to DW about the immense responsibility she feels to represent Afghan women who remain silenced under the Taliban. “It’s not just about wearing the jersey of the Afghan women’s team. It’s also about representing so many Afghan women who have been silenced, who haven’t had a voice to share with the world,” Arefi said. “They have been banned from every single human right.”
Who Is Najma Arefi?
Najma Arefi, 21, was a promising young footballer in Afghanistan when the Taliban took control of the country once again. As a 17-year-old at the time, Arefi and her teammates were suddenly forced to leave their homes, as the oppressive policies made life for women in Afghanistan impossible. Arefi, like many others, saw leaving as her only option for survival and for pursuing her passion for football.
Living under Taliban rule for just one month was a nightmare for Arefi. She recalled, “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 worried about what to do with us.”
The restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women were severe. Women were not allowed to leave their homes without a male chaperone, girls were denied education beyond primary school, and women in public life, including athletes like Arefi, faced brutal punishments for defying the regime’s rules.
Arefi’s escape has allowed her to continue her football career, but the pain of leaving her homeland and her family behind still weighs heavily on her. She has remained in contact with relatives in Afghanistan but is increasingly concerned about their isolation due to the Taliban’s restrictions on social media and the internet.
The Path to the FIFA Tournament
The Afghanistan women’s team’s participation in the FIFA Unites tournament marks a significant step toward their eventual return to the international football scene. Led by former captain Khalida Popal, the efforts to promote the cause of Afghan women’s football have been tireless, with many young players fighting for the chance to play again under the Afghan flag.
The refugee team, made up of players based in Australia, the UK, Portugal, and Italy, has been working hard to promote the inclusion of Afghan women in football despite their displacement. FIFA’s announcement in May of a comprehensive strategy to support Afghan women in football has paved the way for this tournament.
The squad will be coached by Pauline Hamill, a former Scotland international. The team has reunited after a long time apart, and the pre-tournament camp at St. George’s Park in England was an emotional reunion for the players, many of whom had not seen each other in years. Arefi said, “When we step onto the pitch, it didn’t feel like we’ve been apart for such a long time. Football reconnected us again as a team.”
Public and Social Media Reactions
As the tournament draws near, the emotions are running high for both the team and Afghan supporters around the world. Social media platforms have been buzzing with excitement and support for the Afghan women’s football team, with fans hoping for a strong performance that will serve as inspiration for the women still facing oppression in Afghanistan.
Arefi expressed hope that those back home, despite the Taliban’s attempts to silence them, would be able to watch the games live via FIFA’s streaming platform. “We are hopeful that they can watch us and see us as an inspiration for themselves,” she said. The team’s success, she added, is not only about their sporting achievements but also about sending a message of resilience and hope to the women still fighting for their rights in Afghanistan.
Official Statements and What Happens Next
With the first match of the tournament scheduled for October 23, 2025, against Chad, the Afghanistan women’s refugee team is preparing for a fierce competition. However, their participation in the tournament is more than just about winning. As Arefi’s statement makes clear, it’s about fighting for the rights of Afghan women who are currently denied basic freedoms.
The tournament is a crucial step toward gaining full readmission into the FIFA fold and ensuring that Afghan women’s football will be recognized once again. For the players, this is a chance to reclaim their voice and their place in the international sports community.
The team’s participation in the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series is not just a game; it is a statement to the Taliban and to the world: Afghanistan’s women are still here. They are still fighting.
This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
