As part of FIFA’s work to promote and protect the right of all women and girls to play football, the organization has announced “FIFA Unites: Women’s Series,” taking place in Dubai, UAE from October 23 – 29, 2025. The historic four-team, round-robin friendly will feature the Afghan women’s refugee team in its first-ever international matches, playing against the national teams of Chad, Libya and the UAE.

The Taliban regime’s ban on women’s sports in 2021 led to the disbanding of the official Afghan women’s national team and forced many players to flee the country for safety. FIFA has been working to revive women’s football in exile, organizing talent identification camps. In May, the FIFA Council approved the creation of a refugee team as part of the three-pillar FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football. Scottish Manager, Pauline Hamill, coaches the team.

“Ensuring that all women have access to football is a priority for FIFA and a key element in shaping the future of our sport,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “We are aware of the potential the game has both on and off the pitch. These friendly matches represent more than just a competition; they are a symbol of hope and progress for women all over the world.”

The tournament is a pilot program to assess the initiative’s viability. As reported in USA Today, the Chadian and Libyan teams are not currently ranked due to inactivity. By participating in the tournament, both will qualify for a place in the next FIFA rankings, releasing in December.

The current Afghan team consists of 23 players, many of whom had resettled in Australia and play as the Melbourne Victory FC Afghan Women’s Team. The last official game for the Afghan women’s national team was December 1, 2018 at the Central Asian Football Association Women’s Championship. For them, the tournament goes beyond competition. As Reuters shared, “it’s a declaration of resistance and a way to keep the focus on the plight of women in Afghanistan.”

“[Being a] football player gave me the chance to be here. My life is safe. I have a lot of opportunity. My voice is loud, and football helps me and the other girls,” said Nilab, one of the players at the July camp. “Football helped a lot, and I felt freedom [in] everything. There is something about football. Football gives us a lot of chances and support.”

“My goal is not just about me,” she continued. “It’s about all Afghanistan, especially women and girls.”