Why has Fifa Unites: Women’s Series featuring Afghan women’s refugee team moved to Morocco?

23rd October 2025 Oliver Taliku

The Fifa Unites: Women’s Series tournament featuring Afghanistan women’s refugee team has been relocated to Morocco.

Why has the tournament been moved?

The competition has been moved after Afghanistan refugee players were refused VISA’s for their first tournament appearance.

“FIFA would like to thank the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) and looks forward to working together to host a successful tournament,” FIFA said in a statement.

The United Arab Emirates denied VISA’s to Afghanistan’s players after they arrived at the airport for their flight.

With the tournament so close to kicking off, reports out of the team’s camp suggest that many of the stars were offended and left distressed by the whole experience.

When do the Afghan women’s refugee team international debut?

Fifa Unites: Women’s Series was supposed to kick off on Thursday afternoon.

After the relocation of the tournament, the first games will now take place on Sunday.

Afghanistan women’s refugee team will still take part in the competition as they make their debut on the international stage.

Teams representing the UAE, Chad and Libya will all compete in a round-robin style tournament that will see one nation crowned inaugural champions of the women’s series.

FIFA statement

FIFA released a statement following the traumatising situation for Afghanistan’s refugee team.

“We acknowledge that the circumstances, which are due to factors outside of Fifa’s control, may have been difficult and had an impact on some players and staff. As has been the case throughout this project so far, the welfare and wellbeing of all players and staff has, and continues to be, the paramount priority to Fifa.

“We are continuing to work on a daily basis, together with the players and staff, to ensure they are fully supported on and off the pitch through tailored safeguarding and wellbeing services that are being offered to the team.”

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About Oliver Taliku 306 Articles
Olly Taliku has worked with highly respected sports and gambling websites where he has produced hundreds of articles, as well as being published with Burton Albion and Chesterfield FC. At Burton Olly worked closely alongside the women's team, producing mainly matchday content including reports and interviews. He also has experience as an accredited Premier League and EFL writer for Prost International where he worked during the 2021/22 season to produce matchday content as an on location reporter. Olly specialises in women's football as well as long form SEO content plus news and tips. While he enjoys writing about all football, Olly supports Arsenal passionately as a lifelong fan of the club.

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