Afghanistan women's soccer team trains for international matches in New Zealand
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 2, 2026, 10:00 AM
Last updated Jun 2, 2026
The Afghanistan women's soccer team, now 23 members strong, is currently in a training camp in Auckland, New Zealand, preparing for upcoming matches against teams from the Cook Islands. Many of the players, including Fatima Yousufi and Mona Amini, fled the Taliban and relocated to Australia, where they trained for five years in hopes of regaining their ability to represent Afghanistan on the international stage. FIFA officially recognized the team earlier this year, granting them eligibility for international competition. Their last official match was in 2018, and the team previously played in the 'Unite' tournament last year, achieving a victory over Libya.
- •23 members of the Afghanistan women's team are training in Auckland
- •Players previously evacuated from Afghanistan due to Taliban rule
- •FIFA granted the team eligibility for international competition
- •The last official match was played in 2018
- •Team aims to represent Afghan women and girls in sports
- 10:00 AMYahoo Sports — After escaping the Taliban and years in exile the Afghanistan women's soccer team rises again
"Fatima Yousufi escaped the Taliban, arriving in Australia with a backpack and a burning ambition to play international soccer. Through their own determination and courage, and with family support, Yousufi and others like Mona Amini had been able to study, to play soccer for clubs and for the Afghanistan women’s team. After a frantic evacation, 13 of the players settled in Australia where for five years they lived, played and trained in the hope of once again being allowed to represent their country.
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