Khalida Popalzi: I Will Continue Fight for the Participation of the Afghan Women's Football Team in Global Competitions

In an interview with BBC News, Popalzi emphasized that over the past three years she has made extensive efforts to persuade FIFA, yet she has not received a clear response from the organization.

She stated: "If FIFA believes in justice and gender equality, it must find a way for Afghan women to take part in global competitions."

With the approaching qualifiers for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, which could also pave the way for World Cup participation, Popalzi expressed hope that FIFA will provide a special quota to allow Afghanistan's team the opportunity to compete.

She underscored that the participation of Afghan women in international competitions is not merely a sports issue but also a powerful message about the situation of women in Afghanistan.

Popalzi added: "Football is not just a game; it’s a way to fight against being overlooked. If we make our presence known on the international stage, we will show the women inside Afghanistan that they have not been forgotten."

This comes as the Taliban, after regaining power, banned women's sports activities and assumed control of the Afghanistan Football Federation. As a result, the national women's football team—many members living abroad—has been deprived of the opportunity to participate in international competitions.