Afghan Women United

Afghanistan
Shirt badge/Association crest
NicknameAfghan Women United
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Sub-confederationCAFA (Central Asia)
Head coachPauline Hamill
FIFA codeAFG
Home colours
Away colours
FIFA ranking
CurrentNR (16 June 2026)[1]
First international
Unofficial
Afghanistan Afghan Women 1–6  Chad
(Berrechid, Morocco; 26 October 2025)
As FIFA-recognized national team
 Cook Islands 1–0 Afghan Women Afghanistan
(Auckland, New Zealand; 4 June 2026)
Biggest win
Unofficial
 Libya 0–7 Afghan Women Afghanistan
(Berrechid, Morocco; 1 November 2025)
As FIFA-recognized national team
None
Biggest defeat
Unofficial
Afghanistan Afghan Women 1–6  Chad
(Berrechid, Morocco; 26 October 2025)
As FIFA-recognized national team
 Cook Islands 3–0 Afghan Women Afghanistan
(Auckland, New Zealand; 8 June 2026)
Note: Post-Islamic Republic only

Afghan Women United or Afghan Women is a women's football selection team sanctioned by FIFA which represents the Afghan diaspora.[2]

The team was formed following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 and the subsequent abolishment of the official women's national team by the Afghanistan Football Federation.

History

2021 exodus

Tha Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) organized a women's national football team during the Islamic Republic era. That national team played their last official match, a 5–0 loss to Tajikistan, on 1 December 2018 at the 2018 CAFA Women's Championship.[3]

However following the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in August 2021, the national team players were evacuated out of the country.[4] The Taliban has banned women's sports in the country including football.[5]

In March 2022, the exiled national team was admitted into Football Victoria in Australia as Melbourne Victory FC AWT.[6][7] In May 2022, an Afghan development side played a friendly against non-FIFA team Surrey in Dorking, England.[8][9]

The Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) has refused to recognize a women's national team; either consisting of diaspora or local players. Nevertheless, Afghan women has urged FIFA to allow them to play as a national team independent from the AFF.[10][11]

Formation

In May 2025, FIFA sanctioned the creation of a Afghanistan women's refugee team which would be allowed to compete in official tournaments. The program was due to run for one year under a pilot phase.[12][13] Pauline Hamill was appointed as head coach and was tasked to hold three identification camps prior to playing FIFA-approved friendlies in late 2025.[14] Reportedly they were still unable to compete in international competitions.[15][16][17]

FIFA Unites: Women's Series

The Afghanistan refugee team, also known as Afghan Women United, made their debut in the four-nation "FIFA Unites: Women's Series" friendly tournament, originally scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates.[18] However, the UAE refused to issue visas to the Afghan players and the tournament was moved to Morocco.[19][20] They played against Chad, Tunisia, and Libya and finished as third placers.[17][21]

FIFA recognition as a national team

The team became eligible to represent Afghanistan starting from April 2026 following a meeting from the FIFA Council.[22] Afghan Women United played two friendly matches against the Cook Islands in June 2026, losing 1–0 and 3–0.[23][24]

Results and fixtures

2025

26 October 2025 (2025-10-26) FIFA Unites: Women's Series Afghan Women Afghanistan 1–6  Chad Berrechid, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1
  • Djoïtana 44'
  • Abdoulaye 53'
  • Dallou 60', 73'
  • Larkingam 62', 81'
 Stadium: Berrechid Municipal Stadium
29 October 2025 (2025-10-29) FIFA Unites: Women's Series Tunisia  4–0 Afghanistan Afghan Women Berrechid, Morocco
20:00 UTC+1
  • Marzouki 7'
  • Mejri 11'
  • Abbassi 68'
  • Ammar 74'
 Stadium: Berrechid Municipal Stadium
1 November 2025 (2025-11-01) FIFA Unites: Women's Series Libya  0–7 Afghanistan Afghan Women Berrechid, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1
  • Ali 4', 12'
  • Amini 18' (pen.)
  • N. Mohammadi 54'
  • Noori 64'
  • S. Mohammadi 70'
  • Haidari 83'
 Stadium: Berrechid Municipal Stadium

2026

4 June 2026 Friendly Cook Islands  1–0 Afghanistan Afghan Women Auckland, New Zealand
(?) Teupoko Tuariki Report
8 June 2026 Friendly Cook Islands  3–0 Afghanistan Afghan Women Auckland, New Zealand
Report

Current squad

The following players are part of Afghan Women United as of 15 May 2026 and were expected to play in international friendlies against the Cook Islands on 4 and 8 June 2026.[2]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1GK Montaha Moslih Football Australia Bentleigh Greens
1GK Fatima Yousufi (2002-01-14) 14 January 2002 Football Australia South Melbourne
1GK Elaha Safdari The Football Association Doncaster Rovers Belles
2DF Kareshma Abasi Football Australia Bundoora United
2DF Najma Arefi The Football Association Kiveton Park
2DF Khursand Azizi Football Australia Southern United
2DF Susan Khojasta Italian Football Federation Chiesanuova 1975
2DF Bahara Kohstiani Football Australia Eltham Redbacks
2DF Sabreya Rajabi German Football Association Sternschanze
2DF Mursal Sadat Football Australia Eltham Redbacks
3MF Mina Ahmadi Football Australia Nepean
3MF Mona Johini Football Australia Nepean
3MF Maryam Karimyar Portuguese Football Federation São Romão
3MF Tahera Mohammadi Football Australia Brunswick Juventus
3MF Zainab Mozaffari The Football Association Retford
3MF Razia Noori Football Australia Southern United
3MF Manizah Sadat Football Australia Brunswick Juventus
3MF Fatema Urfani Portuguese Football Federation Estoril Praia
4FW Sevin Azimi Unattached
4FW Fatima Haidari Unattached
4FW Nilab Mohammadi Football Australia Southern United
4FW Sosan Mohammadi The Football Association Kiveton Park
4FW Manozh Noori (2003-03-11) 11 March 2003 Football Australia Spring Hills

Coaching history

Name Period Matches Wins Draws Losses Winning %
Scotland Pauline Hamill 2025– 5 1 0 4 20%

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Brazil 2027 Ineligible to qualifyIneligible to qualify
Costa Rica Jamaica Mexico United States 2031 To be determinedTo be determined
England Northern Ireland Scotland Wales 2035 To be determinedTo be determined
Total — 0/10 — — — — — — — — — — — —

Summer Olympics

Summer Olympics record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
United States 2028 Ineligible to qualifyIneligible to qualify
Total — 0/8 — — — — — — — — — — — —

AFC Women's Asian Cup

AFC Women's Asian Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Australia 2026 Ineligible to qualifyIneligible to qualify
Total — 0/21 — — — — — — — — — — — —

SAFF Women's Championship

SAFF Women's Championship record
Year Result GP W D* L GS GA GD
India 2026Did not enter
Total0/7———————
*Denotes draws includes knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Honours

  • FIFA Unites Women's Series
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Third Place: 2025[21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". 16 June 2026. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Afghan Women United to continue historic journey against Cook Islands". Inside FIFA. FIFA. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  3. ↑ Anderson, Jason. "Afghan refugee team to play in FIFA Unites Women's Series soccer tournament". USA Today. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Afghanistan: the national women's football team that isn't". Deutsche Welle. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "Afghanistan women's team representing a country that doesn't recognise them". BBC Sport. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  6. ↑ Lynch, Joey (18 March 2022). "Afghanistan Women's National Team to play in Victorian leagues". ESPN. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "Fixture For Women's State League 4 West – GameDay". GameDay. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "Kim Kardashian and Leeds United help Afghan junior women's football team arrive in UK after escaping Taliban". Sky Sports. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  9. ↑ Frith, Will (22 May 2022). "Afghanistan Women's Development team to play in Surrey". SheKicks. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  10. ↑ "Exiled Afghanistan women's national team say FIFA's rules hinder participation after Taliban's return to power". CBS Sports. 23 July 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "Afghanistan women's team in exile wants FIFA recognition". ESPN.com. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  12. ↑ Millar, Colin (9 May 2025). "FIFA sanctions creation of Afghanistan women's refugee team". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 May 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. ↑ "FIFA OKs creation of Afghanistan women's refugee team". 10 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  14. ↑ "FIFA announces first coach of Afghan women's refugee team". ABC News. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  15. ↑ "Afghanistan's women's football team are fighting to play". Huck. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  16. ↑ Davies, Amanda; Araujo, Madalena (2 October 2025). "As Afghan women's soccer squad is announced, players' fight for recognition goes on". CNN. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  17. 1 2 "Afghan women's football team's international comeback defies Taliban ban". ABC News. 22 November 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  18. ↑ "FIFA to hold historic women's friendly series in United Arab Emirates". Inside FIFA. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  19. ↑ Pearson, Matt (20 October 2025). "Football: Afghanistan women in limbo, FIFA games in doubt". dw.com. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  20. ↑ Pearson, Matt (20 October 2025). "Football: Afghanistan women's late FIFA return in Morocco". dw.com. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  21. 1 2 "Triumphant conclusion to the FIFA Unites: Women's Series 2025 includes trophy for Chad, first win for Afghan Women United". Inside FIFA. FIFA. 2 November 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  22. ↑ "FIFA and AFC enable Afghan women to represent their country in official matches through landmark governance reform". inside.fifa.com. 29 April 2026.
  23. ↑ "Cook Islands secure historic series win over Afghanistan United". Cook Islands News. 9 June 2026. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  24. ↑ "Banned from football at home, Afghan women's team reunite 8,000 miles away". BBC News. 5 August 2026.
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