{
  "id": 195844,
  "title": "Banned from football at home, Afghan women's team reunite 8,000 miles away",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/banned-from-football-at-home-afghan-womens-team-reunite-8-000-miles",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-05T23:28:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/banned-football-home-afghan-womens-232811259.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Afghan women's football team, known as Afghan Women United, has reunited after being banned from representing their country in official matches by Fifa. The squad, consisting of 23 players from Afghanistan living abroad, gathered in New Zealand for a training camp and two unofficial friendly games against the Cook Islands. This marks the first time they have been together since the ruling by Fifa in April, which allowed them to represent their country in official matches. The team hopes to qualify for international competitions such as the World Cup and the Olympics.\n\nPreviously, the Afghan women's football team, formed in 2007, was unable to play due to the Taliban's strict restrictions on women and girls following their return to power in August 2021. These restrictions included barring women from secondary school and university, most professions, and organised sports. The national women's team was forced to disband, with its members evacuated and resettled in various countries, including Australia, the UK, and Portugal.\n\nThe Afghan Women United team has been working tirelessly to regain their right to play, thanks to the efforts of campaigners and the support of Fifa. They are now excited to be playing together again after years of separation due to the restrictive environment they faced in their home country. The team members, such as midfielder Fatima Haidari, have faced significant challenges and personal sacrifices to pursue their passion for football, often hiding their identities to avoid disapproval and potential backlash from their families and communities.\n\nOne such player, Manozh Noori, who grew up playing football with boys in the streets of Kabul, faced immense pressure from her family after her success on the field. She was forced to wear a face covering to hide her identity and temporarily stopped playing football. However, she eventually restarted her career and even buried her medals in her garden before leaving Afghanistan. Now living in Australia, Noori is a football coach, youth facilitator, and advocate for refugees, women's rights, and human rights. She hopes that her brother will eventually understand her dedication to the sport and her achievements as a football player.\n\nThe team's journey to reunite is not only a testament to their determination and passion for the sport but also highlights the resilience and strength of Afghan women who have faced unimaginable challenges in their pursuit of equality and the right to participate in sports. As they prepare for their matches in Auckland, they stand as a symbol of hope and determination, proving that football can be a powerful force for change and empowerment, even in the most restrictive environments.",
  "summary": "Women in the team, which is recognised by Fifa, say football has given them freedom and independence.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Banned from football at home, Afghan women's team reunite 8,000 miles away",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/banned-from-football-at-home-afghan-womens-team-reunite-8-000-miles-197140",
        "published": "2026-08-05T23:28:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}