Afghan Women's National Team to resume FIFA competition

Everyone at Melbourne Victory wishes to congratulate our friends within the Afghan Women’s National Team on their forthcoming return to FIFA competitions.

The move has been enabled by the FIFA council approving a momentous amendment to the FIFA Governance Regulations, which opens the door for all Afghan female players – including members of the FIFA-funded and supported Afghan Women United squad – to represent their country in official international matches as part of FIFA competitions.

The historic decision empowers the FIFA Council, in consultation with the relevant confederation, to establish and approve the registration of a national or representative team under exceptional circumstances where a Member Association is unable to do so.

The ultimate aim is to ensure that players are not excluded from international football due to situations beyond their control, in line with FIFA’s statutory principles of universality, inclusion and non-discrimination.

This change will allow Afghanistan to field a women’s national team outside of the influence of the Taliban, who resumed control of the country and its football association in 2021.

Melbourne Victory is proud of its ongoing association with the Afghan players, which dates back to their emergency arrival in Australia after fleeing Kabul in September 2021.

The establishment of the Melbourne Victory Afghan Women’s Team in January 2022 provided a program for close to 30 players who would go on to form the core of the Afghan Women United team, which participated in FIFA-sanctioned friendly matches for the first time, after progressing year on year through club football with Victory, in Morocco last year.

Melbourne Victory Director of Football, John Didulica, commented:

“The journey that the Afghan players have been on for almost five years is a testament to not only their courage but also how important football is to their lives and their identity.

Everybody at Melbourne Victory has been inspired by them, and the girls are now a genuine part of the Club and its history. A number of the players are continuing their association with Melbourne Victory through coaching in our community programs and scholarships with our education partners.

Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, added:

“This next step is a wonderful testament to the Club, which solely funded the team for a number of years and for Victory staff, such as Jeff Hopkins, who took it upon himself to be the inaugural coach in 2022 to help the girls come together to play football as they adjusted to life in Australia.

“This news is a timely reminder that in the industry that we work in, small acts of generosity can resonate around the world and is a wonderful example of Melbourne Victory putting its vision and values into action, as we lead, unite, connect and inspire people through football.”

Although the amendment has immediate effect, FIFA will now lead the required administrative and preparatory steps, including team registration and the establishment of an operational and sporting structure. World football’s governing body will provide all necessary resources – human, technical and financial – to ensure a safe, professional and sustainable pathway to official competition.

Support packages for Afghan Women United players will continue throughout the transition phase for up to two years, allowing the new structure to evolve while maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, performance and well-being.

The FIFA-funded and supported team will hold its next training camp during June in New Zealand, where they will also have the opportunity to play against the Cook Islands.

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