Afghanistan women’s team representing a country that doesn’t recognise them

Watching Mohammadi celebrate with her team-mates, you can tell this is about more than football for them.

“It’s very emotional for me,” says Khalida Popal, the former Afghanistan captain who now lives in Denmark.

When Kabul fell and the Taliban ousted the government and took over, she worked tirelessly to evacuate the team and staff. As team director, she has come to watch them and promote the match.

“All those women sacrificed a lot to play for the national team and to be able to represent Afghanistan. Unfortunately they lost their title and lost home,” says Popal.

In addition to banning adolescent girls and women from studying at schools and universities, the Taliban have prohibited all female sports.

It means the Afghanistan team is not officially recognised by their country or Fifa.

“I’m very sad. I was expecting a lot more for football’s governing body,” says Popal.

“[Fifa needs] to stand with these women. We want leadership – we need a strong voice to stand with us. Don’t keep silent.”

In a statement, Fifa responded: “The selection of players and teams representing a member association is considered as an internal affair of the member association.

“Therefore, Fifa does not have the right to officially recognise any team unless it is first recognised by the concerned member association.”

It added: “Ensuring access to football for both female and male players without discrimination and in safety is a key priority for Fifa.

“Fifa is therefore continuing to monitor the situation very closely and remains in close contact with the Afghan Football Federation and other stakeholders with the aim to promote access to football in Afghanistan.

“Fifa has also been supporting the evacuation of over 150 Afghan sports persons and human rights defenders at risk in November 2021 and continues its support for this group.”

Popal and others say Fifa’s stance plays into the hands of the Taliban authorities.

Doing what they love has come at a heavy price: the constant anxiety about the safety of family and friends back home; the loneliness and stress of leaving everything behind.

Popal says “this beautiful game is keeping them together”.

“They haven’t given up on football,” she says. “And I really hope that football won’t give up on them.”