Evidence ledger

What is confirmed

  • The 23 players of Afghanistan's women's football team who now live abroad have travelled to New Zealand for a training camp and to play two unofficial friendly games against the Cook Islands.[1]
  • Banned from playing at home, this is the first time they have been together since football governing body FIFA ruled in April 2026 that they could represent their country in official matches in the future.[1]

What remains disputed or unverified

No disputed central claims are recorded for this story.

The 23 players of Afghanistan's women's football team who now live abroad have travelled to New Zealand to play two unofficial friendly games against the Cook Islands, according to a France24 video report published Aug. 7. The report, which says the trip includes a training camp built around the two matches, is still developing and has not been independently confirmed beyond that initial account.[1]

Training camp is first reunion since April FIFA ruling

According to the same France24 report, the New Zealand camp is the first time the 23 players have been together since football governing body FIFA ruled in April 2026 that they could represent their country in official matches in the future. The report described the two games against the Cook Islands as unofficial friendlies scheduled as part of that camp.[1]

Players now living abroad after ban at home

France24 said the players are now based abroad and are banned from playing at home, and presented their trip as an effort to use football to champion Afghan women's rights. The report did not provide further details about the ban or where the players are currently living.[1]

Version and update history
  1. Version 1 · — Initial source-grounded generation