Melbourne-based Afghan women's team dreaming of Olympics

The global governing body FIFA approved a rule change on Wednesday that permits the team to participate in official international matches. This development expands on the FIFA supported Afghan Women United squad established last year for athletes residing outside their homeland.

Goalkeeper Fatima Yousufi, who is now settled in Melbourne alongside many of the exiled players, shared that the team felt overwhelmed upon receiving the announcement.

"One hundred percent emotional. Tears of joy, because we never stopped representing Afghanistan in our hearts," the 24 year old explained to Reuters during a video interview.

"And now the world is finally recognising that. But at the same time many girls in Afghanistan still do not have this opportunity, so this moment is also for them."

Before the Taliban seized control, Afghanistan employed 25 female footballers under contract, with the majority now residing in Australia.

Afghan Women United is presently involved in a selection procedure, as FIFA organises regional camps in England and Australia.

Although Afghanistan cannot qualify for the Womens World Cup in Brazil next year, the team might enter the qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"Thinking about all those opportunities coming up, those events will be the greatest thing that could happen for the team," Yousufi remarked. She plays for South Melbourne FC while pursuing her studies.

"So hopefully we will make that."

Following the Talibans return to power in 2021, womens sports have essentially vanished in Afghanistan, and women face significant restrictions in accessing education and job prospects.

Similar to several teammates, Yousufis escape from Afghanistan was traumatic.

Carrying just a backpack containing some clothes and a water bottle, Yousufi was evacuated from Kabul to Dubai with help from the Australian government.

She reached Australia in a state of shock, reflecting on all she had left behind.

"Even our identity, we had to delete everything. We had to, you know, disappear from the public to be just safe during the time," she recounted.

"It was such a dangerous time, but I am glad we made it alive and we made it out here and today we are playing."

Yousufi has since rejoined her parents and all her siblings in Melbourne.

Adapting to life as an immigrant in Australia has required considerable effort, yet her football ambitions persist unchanged.

"In Afghanistan, I was dreaming of seeing the Afghanistan team in the World Cup," she stated.

"And I think if we are going to make that happen, it will be the greatest thing that could happen for Afghanistan womens soccer."