Afghanistan's women's national football team, now known as Afghan Women United, is poised to play its first official match since 2021 after a visa denial in the UAE prompted a last-minute venue switch to Morocco. The FIFA Unites: Women's Series tournament, originally scheduled for October 23, will now begin on October 26. Chad and Libya are confirmed participants, with a fourth team yet to be announced.
The Afghan team faced a setback when players were denied visas to enter the United Arab Emirates, leading FIFA to relocate the four-team round-robin tournament to Morocco. This marks the team's return to international competition after four years in exile following the Taliban's return in 2021. A group of Afghan refugees has been competing in regional leagues in Australia, but this will be the first time the full team plays together since then.
FIFA announced the change on Monday, thanking the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) for stepping in on short notice. The new schedule gives participants just days to travel, acclimatize, and prepare. Morocco is already hosting the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup, which runs until November 8, and has a strong track record in women's football, including the last three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and upcoming 2030 men's World Cup matches.
In May, FIFA launched its 'Strategy for Action for Afghan Women's Football' to support the team's development. The rebranding to Afghan Women United was chosen by the players with FIFA's input, replacing the previous 'Afghan women's refugee team' designation.
Defender Najma Arefi emphasized the broader significance: "It's not just about wearing jersey of the Afghan team. It's also about representing so many of the Afghan women that have been silenced and haven't got any voice to share it with the world. They have been banned from every single human right."
The match schedule remains unclear as the fourth team is pending announcement.