Afghan Women United have reunited in Auckland for a pair of landmark international fixtures against the Cook Islands, seven months after recording a historic victory over Libya at the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025™.
The matches, which ended in 1-0 and 3-0 defeats, marked the team’s first training camp since the FIFA Council approved an amendment to the Governance Regulations in late April, opening the door for Afghan women to represent their country in future official internationals and FIFA competitions.
The squad is made up of players living across the world who were displaced after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
The programme was established in May 2025 following the FIFA Council’s approval of the FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football, designed to provide safe, structured and high-level playing opportunities for Afghan women living outside the country.
While the results went in favour of the Cook Islands, the fixtures represented another significant step for a team whose continued presence on the international stage carries meaning far beyond the scoreboard.