The Evolution Of Football In Afghanistan: A Game Of Resilience And Hope

Football is one of the two most popular sports in Afghanistan, the other being cricket. The Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) was founded in 1922 and joined FIFA in 1948. The first Afghan football club, Mahmoudiyeh F.C., was founded in 1934, and the second, Ariana Kabul F.C., was established in 1941. However, the sport has faced challenges due to political and social upheavals in the country. During the Taliban regime, all sports were banned, and women's football continues to be forbidden under their rule. Despite these obstacles, Afghanistan has made notable progress in football, with the men's national team winning the 2013 SAFF Championship and the women's national team reaching the semi-finals of the 2012 SAFF Women's Championship. The country also launched its first professional men's football league, the Afghanistan Champions League, in 2021.

The Taliban's impact on football in Afghanistan

During the Taliban's rule from 1996 to 2001, football was not prohibited, but it was used as a tool to attract citizens and spread their message. Local football was heavily influenced by Taliban rules, and players who broke these laws were punished. For example, in 2000, a Pakistani team was arrested and had their heads shaved for wearing shorts. The Afghanistan national team's matches during this time were held at the Ghazi Stadium, which was also used for public executions by the Taliban.

Following the Taliban's initial fall from power, the Afghanistan men's national football team returned to the international stage in 2002. However, the country's ongoing instability and safety concerns have prevented them from playing home games. Despite these challenges, the team won the 2013 SAFF Championship and earned the "FIFA Fair Play Award" the same year.

With the Taliban's return to power in 2021, women have been banned from participating in sports, including football. Female athletes have been targeted as enemies of the Taliban's fundamentalist views, forcing some, like Fatima, a member of the Afghanistan women's national soccer team, to flee the country. Meanwhile, officials at the football federation have destroyed evidence of the women's program to protect female athletes.

The Taliban's impact on men's football has been less severe, but still disruptive. The Afghanistan men's national team continues to play, although they often have to arrange friendlies independently and appeal to FIFA for financial support. The team has also been affected by the country's economic and humanitarian crises, with players and coaches leaving due to safety concerns.

The Afghanistan Football Federation

The AFF has had a challenging history due to political upheaval and the Taliban regime, which banned football and used the main stadium in Kabul for executions. After the fall of the Taliban, the AFF worked to revive football in Afghanistan, but the sport continues to face obstacles related to infrastructure, player welfare, and cultural attitudes towards women's participation.

The AFF has made notable progress in developing football at the local and national levels. The Afghan Premier League, established in 2012, was the country's first-ever league competition, with eight teams competing. However, due to financial constraints and political changes, the league was discontinued in 2020 and replaced by the Afghanistan Champions League in 2021. This new league is composed of 12 teams from six zones, with matches held in Kabul, Herat, and Balkh provinces. Despite challenges, the AFF remains committed to promoting football in Afghanistan and has received international recognition for its efforts.

The national football team has experienced both setbacks and triumphs. The team's first international game was against Iran in 1941, and they joined FIFA in 1948, participating in the Olympic Games football tournament that year. However, due to various disruptions, they were absent from the international stage for extended periods. One of their major successes came in 2013 when they won the SAFF Championship, earning the "FIFA Fair Play Award". Afghanistan has also made strides in women's football, with the women's national team recognised by the AFF since 2007. Unfortunately, since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, women's football has once again been forbidden, and the women's national team has been forced into exile, currently based in Australia and the UK. Despite these challenges, the AFF continues to work towards the development of football in Afghanistan, striving to provide opportunities for both men and women to participate in the sport.

The Afghanistan Champions League

However, the league faced challenges in 2023 due to financial constraints. FIFA withheld funding from the Afghanistan Football Federation due to political changes and the Taliban's involvement in Afghan football, which violated FIFA regulations. Consequently, the league was not held that year.

In January 2024, the Afghanistan Football Federation announced the resumption of the league after Ramadan, scheduled to begin on April 20. The third season will be broadcast live and exclusively by the Ariana Television Network, with sponsorship from Victor Energy Drink.

The Afghan Premier League

The 2019 season of the APL saw Toofan Harirod crowned champions for the second consecutive time. The 2020 season was won by Shaheen Asmayee.

In addition to the men's league, a women's football tournament was also held alongside the APL season in 2019, marking the return of the tournament after a three-year gap.

The APL was an important development in Afghanistan's football history, praised by the Afghan High Peace Council as an "opportunity to bring peace and stability" to the country.

The Kabul Premier League

The KPL was itself replaced by the Afghan Premier League in 2012, which was then replaced by the Afghanistan Champions League in 2021.

The 12 teams that competed in the KPL were:

• Ordu Kabul F.C. (Kabul)
• Khurasan Kabul F.C. (Kabul)
• Seramiasht F.C. (Kabul)
• Esteqlal F.C. (Kabul)
• Javan Azadi Kabul F.C. (Kabul)
• Javan Minan Kabul F.C. (Kabul)
• Pamir Kabul F.C. (Kabul)
• Hakim Sanayi Kabul F.C. (Kabul)
• Shooy Kabul F.C. (Kabul)
• Solh Kabul F.C. (Kabul)
• Maiwand Kabul F.C. (Kabul)
• Sabawoon Kabul F.C. (Kabul)

Ariana Kabul F.C. dominated the league in its early years, winning every year from 1946 to 1955. Maiwand Kabul F.C. won the 1997-98 season, and Ordu Kabul F.C. won four consecutive seasons from 2004 to 2007. The league was not played in 2008, with Ordu Kabul F.C. being named the champion. Kabul Bank F.C. won in 2009.

Frequently asked questions