The Taliban takeover of power in Afghanistan nearly two years ago has meant wide-ranging restrictions on Afghan women’s freedom, including a ban on sport. We, the players of the Afghanistan women's national football team, were forced to flee our homeland simply because we played football.

We dream of representing our country at the Women's World Cup. But, FIFA has repeatedly ignored our pleas to formally recognise our right to play. 

Today, we stand on the sidelines in Australia, watching as FIFA remains deaf to our pleas. We need your support to call on FIFA to allow us to represent Afghanistan again. 

Our status as national female players meant we were at risk of being arrested, or worse, murdered under the Taliban. We were compelled to escape as refugees. We found a home in Australia and in our hearts, we carry the hopes of the countless Afghan women we left behind as we boarded an evacuation flight to Australia.

In Australia, we found solace in football, our shared passion bringing us together, becoming our new family. The resilience we learned on the pitch gave us the strength to rebuild our lives from the ruins.

The oppressive Taliban regime crackdown on women's rights leaves no room for us to participate in our own society, let alone play football. Meanwhile, the men's team continues to compete in FIFA-sanctioned competitions.

Despite our pleas, FIFA has rejected officially recognising our team, citing the need for approval from the 'Concerned Member Association'. This technicality has stripped us of our power to resist, to be a beacon of hope for millions of Afghan girls and women who dream of a life outside their homes. FIFA's gender equality statutes pledge non-discrimination against women in any member federation across the world. Yet, by denying us the right to play, they are endorsing the greatest form of discrimination.

Our dream is to establish a National Afghan Women's Soccer Team, that adheres to the AFF & FIFA standardised soccer training and playing guidelines, with programs for Afghan women and girls living in exile.

We appeal to FIFA and the world to #StandWithAfghanWomen. We lost our homes, and are separated from friends and family, but we refuse to lose our dreams.