Afghan Women United on the world stage

After almost four years away from international competition, Afghanistan’s leading women footballers have made an inspiring comeback. Competing as Afghan Women United, the squad travelled to Morocco for the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series - a tournament created to celebrate inclusion, resilience and the universal power of sport.

Many of the players are now rebuilding their lives in Australia, the UK, Italy and Portugal after fleeing Afghanistan in 2021. For them, this wasn’t just a return to football. It was a chance to reclaim a future taken from them, and to represent the millions of Afghan girls and women who can no longer participate in organised sport at home.

Back on the international stage

The week-long series brought together four national sides - Afghanistan, Libya, Chad and Tunisia - for competitive matches and shared development activities. For the Afghan women, it marked their first international appearance since being displaced.

The squad was formed following three intensive selection camps held in Australia and England. Under the guidance of professional coaches, players were supported by a wide network of experts offering not just technical training, but also healthcare and personal development workshops. 

Despite coming together from four different countries, the team bonded quickly. In their opening match against Chad, they stunned spectators, with striker Manozh Noori scoring in just the fourth minute - an early sign of the team’s determination to compete at the highest level again.

A week of courage and progress

While Chad ultimately topped the table, every team walked away with meaningful achievements. For the Afghan players, being able to compete again on an international platform was itself a milestone - one made even more significant given the barriers women and girls continue to face in Afghanistan.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the tournament’s second round and met with the Afghan squad. He told them they were at “the beginning of a beautiful, beautiful story that you are writing for yourselves, for your families, for so many girls and women all over the world”. 

The team finished their campaign on a remarkable high. In their final match, they delivered a commanding 7-0 win over Libya, securing third place overall. The victory, a result of teamwork, discipline and pride, was celebrated by supporters around the world.

For captain Fatima Sadat, the achievement was a dream come true. 

“We were waiting and dreaming of this win,” she said. “We had many beautiful experiences [in the tournament]… inside the pitch, we absolutely learned, we are growing, and, for the next generation [of Afghanistan players], we will be the people that will teach them.”

A message of hope to Afghan women everywhere

Among the standout players was goalkeeper Fatima Yousufi, now living in Australia. For her, the series demonstrated that displacement has not dimmed the team’s ambition or their commitment to inspiring the next generation.

“It's a big achievement for women of Afghanistan, for our own team,” she told Australia for UNHCR. “It shows even though it's four years now, still we're here and still we're playing and we all keep dreaming.”

More than football

Afghan Women United left the competition with bronze medals and global admiration. Their journey from displacement to international competition will continue to inspire, and their performance in Morocco is a powerful reminder that sport can revive hope, restore identity and create new futures.

Read more about Fatima Yousufi’s journey to Australia