The Kabul Tribune KT) — Khalida Popal, recently named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026, is being recognized not only for her achievements on the soccer field but also for her efforts to keep Afghan women’s soccer alive in exile.
Popal, a founding member of Afghanistan’s first women’s national soccer team in 2007, became one of the country’s most prominent advocates for women in sports. As captain of the national team, she encouraged girls to pursue soccer despite social and political barriers.
Her work took on greater urgency after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Women’s sports were effectively dismantled, the Afghanistan Football Federation disbanded the women’s national team, and many of Afghanistan’s top female players were forced to flee the country.
Now living in Denmark, Popal found a new way to continue that fight. According to TIME, she helped organize Afghan Women United, a soccer team made up of Afghan refugee players living across the world. She also led a yearslong campaign to secure official recognition for the team from FIFA.
That effort paid off in April when FIFA formally recognized Afghan Women United, making the squad eligible to compete in international tournaments, including qualifiers for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
The achievement marks a significant moment for Afghan women athletes who lost the opportunity to represent their country after the Taliban’s return. Through the new team, they have regained a pathway to international competition and a platform to share their story.
TIME cited Popal’s leadership and advocacy in naming her among its 100 Most Influential People in Sports in 2026, highlighting how the former captain transformed herself into a global advocate for displaced Afghan athletes.
For Popal, the recognition reflects a mission that extends beyond soccer: ensuring Afghan women remain visible, represented and able to compete, even while living far from home.
Source: TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026.
