The Afghan’s Women’s National Soccer team have received over 100 000 signatures on their petition to gain recognition in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The team were forced to flee Afghanistan in August 2021 when the Taliban took over the government. Since coming to Australia they have been managing the challenges of settling in a new country, financially supporting themselves and their families who also fled during the humanitarian crisis and reside in other countries, studying as well as keeping their soccer goals and aspirations alive.

The team says they “dream of representing our country at the Women’s World Cup. But, FIFA has repeatedly ignored their pleas to formally recognise [their] right to play.”

The Women’s World Cup now enters its final week this week. 

The Wire’s Aryana Mohmood spoke with Captain and Goalkeeper for the Afghanistan National Women’s Soccer Team, Fatima Yousufi as well as defendants Mursal Sadat and Adiba Ganji, about the petition, the challenges they faced in both Afghanistan and now Australia to play soccer and their undying love for the sport. 

Image: Afghan National Women’s Soccer Team

Produced By: Aryana Mohmood

Featured In Story: Captain and Goalkeeper for the Afghanistan National Women’s Soccer Team, Fatima Yousufi , Defendant for Afghanistan National Women’s Soccer Team, Mursal Sadat , and Defendant for Afghanistan National Women’s Soccer Team, Adiba Ganji

First aired on The Wire, Monday 14 August 2023