Forced to flee the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021, former national team goalkeeper Elaha Safdari was among the athletes given chilling instructions to burn their kits and erase their digital footprints to avoid retaliation. Now in exile, Safdari and her teammates recently gathered at England’s St George’s Park for a FIFA-organized identification camp, an emotional week that mixed the joy of reunion with the pain of remembrance for the friends and dreams left behind.
The camp, one of three led by FIFA, aimed to build a 23-player squad from the refugee community for international friendly tournaments. For the players, it was a powerful act of defiance and a platform to represent the women still in Afghanistan. Defender Najma Arefi, who also fled at 18, stated, “We want to show the world that even if you’re closing your eyes, we’re still here… A dog on the street has more rights than a woman in Afghanistan.”
While grateful for FIFA’s initiative, which President Gianni Infantino called an “important step,” the players have a larger goal: full international recognition to compete officially as a national team in exile. “I was so close to my dream, and the Taliban took my dream away,” Safdari said, fighting back tears. The team’s ultimate aim is to be allowed on the international stage to represent their country.
The gathering served as a poignant reminder of both resilience and loss. The sounds of laughter and footballs on the pitch in England stood in stark contrast to the reality for women in Afghanistan, who are banned from sports. For these athletes, football is no longer just a game; it is a form of protest and a steadfast commitment to ensure the world does not forget the women whose dreams were taken from them.
