FIFA announced on Wednesday that the team will compete from October 23 to 29 against the United Arab Emirates, Chad, and Libya. While the squad cannot yet represent Afghanistan in World Cup qualifiers, the competition marks a major step in their re-entry into international football.
The Afghan women’s team last featured in an official competitive fixture in 2018. Their progress was halted after the Taliban regained power in 2021 and effectively shut down women’s sport in the country. Despite those restrictions, Afghanistan’s football federation has remained a member of FIFA, which requires national associations to uphold statutes prohibiting discrimination.
“The tournament reinforces FIFA’s efforts to promote and protect the right of all women and girls to play the sport, pursue their footballing dreams and thrive through the game,” world football’s governing body said in a statement.
Among their opponents, the UAE is currently ranked 117th in FIFA’s global standings, while Chad and Libya do not yet hold official rankings. All matches will be played in a round-robin format and broadcast live on FIFA’s digital streaming service.
The Dubai outing not only marks a long-awaited competitive return for Afghanistan’s women but also underscores broader global efforts to safeguard inclusivity and access in football, particularly in countries where gender equality in sport remains under threat.