✊ How Afghanistan's women's national team became a symbol of resistance against the Taliban

FIFA has officially recognised Afghan Women's United after a landmark decision!

Afghanistan has a women’s national team again after a landmark decision by FIFA earlier this week.

Women’s sports have been banned since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, forcing many members of the Afghan women’s national team into exile. Officially, The Lionesses (as they’re nicknamed) haven’t played a match in years.

Unofficially, though, women’s football survived through the formation of Afghan Women United, a squad composed of Afghan refugees scattered around the world.

This refugee team will now be recognised as the official Afghanistan women’s national team in FIFA competitions. The Taliban, who control the Afghanistan Football Federation, have been cut out.

While this is something to celebrate, the plight facing Afghan women within the country continues. The decimated domestic football landscape is proof of this.