Malala Yousafzai slams FIFA and ICC for failing Afghan female athletes in exile

Since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, life for women has dramatically worsened. Girls were barred from schools, gyms were shuttered, and female athletes were forbidden from training or competing. Many fled the country, seeking asylum and the right to play again. Now, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai is calling on the world’s top sports organisations to act.

In a powerful interview with CNN Sports on July 1, 2025, Malala said global bodies like FIFA and the International Cricket Council (ICC) must step up and create space for these women to compete on the global stage.

“They can definitely find opportunities for these players to play, and this is a form of resistance against the Taliban,” she said.

Malala has long been an advocate for women’s rights, and meeting the Afghan women's football team at the 2023 Women's World Cup was a moment that deepened her resolve. Watching packed stadiums while knowing an entire national team couldn’t participate moved her deeply.

“It was truly heartbreaking … while stadiums were full, there was a team from Afghanistan who cannot play in their country,” she recalled.

FIFA and ICC: Too Little, Too Late?

In 2025, FIFA announced a “Strategy for Action” for Afghan women’s football, including the formation of a refugee women’s team “as soon as possible.” Malala called this a “significant step forward,” but insisted that timelines must speed up.

The ICC also launched a task force in April 2025 and created a fund to support displaced female cricketers. However, implementation has lagged. Afghan cricketer Mursal Sadat lamented the delay, saying it had already cost the team two World Cup opportunities.

Malala believes these athletes deserve more than symbolic gestures.

“Playing and practicing every right for Afghan women is a form of resistance … against the Taliban,” she said.

Sport as Resistance

Malala's stance reframes sport not just as a career path but as an act of political defiance. By allowing Afghan women athletes in exile to compete internationally, sports bodies can amplify their voice and challenge the erasure of women under the Taliban’s regime.

With FIFA and the ICC already making pledges, the next step is implementation. As Malala puts it—the time to act is now.