Afghanistan Women's National Team Reinstated at FIFA Congress After Long Exile
The Afghanistan women's national soccer team has been reinstated to compete in official competitions following a decision by the FIFA Council. This comes after a prolonged period of exile that began in August 2021, when the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. The team had been unable to compete due to the Afghanistan Football Federation's refusal to sanction them. The FIFA Council's rule change now allows the governing body to handle the sanctioning, enabling the team to resume play. Khalida Popal, the former team captain, celebrated this as a 'historical moment' at the FIFA Congress. 
