In a powerful moment of hope and resilience, five young Afghan women gathered around a laptop in Doncaster, England, holding their breath as they received long-awaited news: they had been selected by FIFA to join the newly announced Afghan women’s refugee squad.

The 23-player team, made up of exiled athletes who fled Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, was publicly revealed by FIFA on Wednesday. The squad will compete in a friendly tournament in Dubai this month, facing teams from Chad, Libya, and the United Arab Emirates, with a training camp preceding the matches.

For Elaha Safdari, a 21-year-old goalkeeper, the announcement was deeply emotional.

“I can’t wait to share it with my family,” she told CNN Sports through tears. “I’m sure my parents will be proud of me.”
Her parents, who remain in Afghanistan due to health issues, were unable to flee with her and her brother, who now live as refugees in the UK.

Though grateful, the players say this is only the beginning of a larger goal — to be officially recognized as Afghanistan’s national women’s football team. FIFA’s decision to form the squad is a symbolic step, but not an official one. FIFA continues to recognize the Afghan Football Federation (AFF), which has banned women’s sports outright under Taliban rule.

Despite this, FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the initiative a “landmark” moment. However, critics — including the players — argue it falls short of true inclusion.

“I am very grateful… but I would prefer the Afghanistan women’s national team title,” said defender Narges Mayeli, who did not make the final squad but remains determined.
“We’re going to keep pushing anyway.”

Another concern lies in the team’s label: “Afghan women’s refugee team.”

“We are tired of getting called ‘refugee,’” said player Zainab Mozaffari. “We want more than that from FIFA.”

In response to questions, FIFA stated that the team represents a “significant and landmark step”, adding that they remain committed to improving conditions for Afghan women’s football — both in exile and in Afghanistan — despite “complex and exceptional challenges.”

While the tournament in Dubai is a historic milestone, for the players, the journey toward full recognition, respect, and equality is far from over. They are not just playing for themselves — they are playing for every girl in Afghanistan who dreams of stepping onto a football pitch again.