FIFA President Gianni Infantino has described the return of Afghanistan’s women’s football team to international competition after a four-year ban as a “beautiful story.”
According to FIFA’s official website on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Infantino called the team’s presence ahead of their match in the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025 an inspiration.
FIFA stated: “The decision by the FIFA Council in May this year to form a team as part of FIFA’s action strategy for Afghan women’s football led to the creation of the Afghan Women United team, a name chosen by the players in consultation with FIFA, marking their first participation in an official competition.”
In their debut match, the Afghan women’s team lost to Chad 6–1, and in their second game, Tunisia defeated them 4–0.
“The beginning of a beautiful story, one that you are writing for yourselves, your families, and for countless girls and women around the world,” Infantino added.
The Afghan women’s football team includes 14 players based in Australia, five in the United Kingdom, two in Portugal, and two in Italy.
Their coach, Pauline Hamill, a former Scottish national player, selected the squad after three training camps.
It is worth noting that after the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, the women’s national football team was disbanded, and its players were forced to leave the country.
