The Kabul Tribune (KT)— Former Afghanistan women’s national team captain Khalida Popal is urging the soccer world to look beyond the stadiums as the FIFA World Cup brings global attention, investment and celebration to Mexico, asking how much of that spotlight will reach vulnerable girls and refugees living on the margins.
Popal, a founder of Afghanistan’s women’s national team, said the tournament presents an opportunity not only to celebrate the sport but also to support those displaced by conflict and persecution, according to Reuters.
She fled Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, a takeover that effectively barred women and girls from sports and imposed sweeping restrictions on their participation in public life.
Popal’s appeal comes as millions of fans, media outlets and sponsors focus on World Cup festivities, while many Afghan women and girls continue to face severe limitations at home and uncertain futures in exile, Reuters reported.
