Banned from football at home, Afghan women's team reunite 8,000 miles away
The Afghan women's football team has reunited in New Zealand for a training camp after being banned from organized sports by the Taliban in 2021. Following a FIFA ruling, the team is now eligible to represent Afghanistan in international competitions as a refugee squad.
Why it matters
This development represents a significant milestone for Afghan women's rights and their ability to maintain a national identity through sports despite political exile.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Mahjooba Nowrouzi BBC News Afghan Languages, Auckland, New Zealand Phil Walter/Getty Images The Afghan women's football team gathered for the first time since Fifa ruled they could represent their country in official matches The changing room is busy with footballers going through their pre-match routines. Some stretch and tighten their boots, others embrace.
"Be strong as always because we are representing Afghan women," says midfielder Fatima Haidari to fellow members of Afghan Women United.
Applause erupts in the room where an Afghan flag hangs and a patriotic song is played. As the women sing along some struggle to hold back tears.
There's a final team huddle with words of encouragement from their coach before they head out to the pitch – a place that for years they had been told they did not belong.
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