They're a team in exile both on and off the pitch. As Australia passes the milestone of one year until it hosts the AFC Women's Asian Cup, a "black mark" hangs over the tournament with the Australian-based Afghanistan women's national team still barred from playing, as they're not recognised by FIFA. While the bright lights of stadiums in Sydney, Gold Coast and Perth will witness the Matildas take part in its second major global tournament on home soil in three years, the Afghanistan national women's team could be forced to watch on from the stands. With complex backgrounds for each player's ambitions off the field, the scenario on the football pitch is simple — women from Afghanistan have been denied the right to represent their country on the international stage since the Taliban took over in August 2021. Former international players are seeking an exemption to be visible on the global stage once again, as Afghan women living in Australia draw attention to the failures from institutions, contradictions on human rights policies and the equality of women. As players sought refuge across the world in 2022, a regrouped team in Australia — including co-captain and defender, Mursal Sadat and goalkeeper Fatima Yousufi — formed a joint-venture as the Melbourne Victory Afghan Women's Team comprising of the talented women from the war-torn nation. "My hopes are that we can get the recognition, if not us, maybe some other girls who are more talented than us, that they can at least represent the country and they can be the voice for others," Sadat said. "We just want this recognition to be their voice, to represent our country again. So all our hard work wouldn't be thrown off the cliff just like that." Three years on from fleeing their country, the brave women continue their fight to play internationally and speaking up for the voices of women in Afghanistan. For Yousufi, she remembers the first time she was asked by other girls at school to join them in kicking a football. "It was the first time being introduced with a football and with the girls. It was amazing, you just feel like you're in a world of your own," she said. Currently, there are no freedoms for women to kick a ball in Afghanistan. It paints a stark picture for Yousufi, more than 11,000 kilometres from her homeland, but something she knows she will continue to advocate for. Two years ago, unable to compete at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia, she felt the envy of representing her nation as she watched from the sidelines. "I couldn't believe it myself. Deep down, whenever I was watching the games like Matildas and other teams from other countries, deep down I was sad, thinking like, there was a day I was playing on that field and representing like them and listening to the anthem of my country," Yousufi said. "It's such a joyful moment, such an honourable moment that I had with the team. "But right now, we don't have it. It's such a loss for our country. "I was feeling sad for the first [year in Australia], but then realising after two years to four years now, seeing there is no change happening. Now I'm hopeful [to play international again]." A 'black mark' on Australia looms It's a sensitive situation for all involved after millions fled Afghanistan more than three years ago. The Taliban's control in Kabul has put pressure on the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF), with women being banned from participating in any sport, including football. As it currently stands, 33 teams have submitted interest in participating in the major event, while there is no entry from the AFF to participate in the qualifying tournament, with draws to be finalised by March 27 for corresponding matches in June and July. Without entry to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) tournament, it is feared the denial of international representation will lead to a generation of talent lost to the game. "It's absolutely critical that Afghanistan enters that qualification phase, or all the sacrifices the girls have put in over the past three years will be lost," Director of Football at Melbourne Victory, John Didulica said. "What we'd like now is for these national and international bodies to meet us halfway and create that opportunity for the players. "That would be a black mark for me against the tournament, and as a nation I don't think it's something we should stand for." Support from afar as symbolism shifts The former national captain, Khalida Popal sought refuge, and is now based in Denmark working as the program manager for the Afghanistan national women's team and founder of an organisation, Girl Power, with the focus on helping marginalised communities and women. Popal said if the players are to achieve their goals in getting recognition from FIFA, it will be justice for women who died and suffered, and giving hope for future generations. "I am so proud of them. They are the strongest people … the trauma that they faced when the country collapsed, the trauma that they faced when they were escaping. They saw the deaths in their eyes," she said. "They saw people dying in front of them and how the Taliban were shooting towards them." As part of assistance from the Australian government, Popal helped the players remotely with evacuations as they sought refuge in Australia among other countries during the 2021 collapse of the country. "My journey with the national team never ended," Popal said. "The women of Afghanistan are in an open prison. They're hostages by day by the Taliban. They're not allowed to speak. Our uniform was a great symbol of activism and standing for our sisters and representing our country. That is now changed to burqas and that's what Taliban wants." Popal has called for governing bodies including FIFA to stand alongside the players and "really recognise a team from exile." "It [would be] a strong statement to Taliban or any group that women belong to everywhere and this is how the family and community of football are standing together," Popal said. "This team could be shown as how football can stand together in solidarity and support to the group of women by allowing them to represent their country. Calls for more action from FIFA and Football Australia Despite a groundswell of assistance from Melbourne Victory, Professional Footballers Australia, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, former Australian footballer and human rights advocate Craig Foster, the Afghan players have found frustration and disappointment that FA and Football Victoria have not helped their cause in a time of need. Now in her fourth year living in Australia, Sadat says FA has never met the team or reached out to assist the players, yet has seen support grow for Afghan women playing sport in other national sporting bodies and codes such as cricket. In January, Cricket Australia hosted the Afghanistan Women's Cricket Team in a match played against a Cricket Without Borders team in Melbourne. When approached for comment, FA would not confirm if it had offered support to the players during their time in Australia. In a statement to ABC Sport the governing body said it "applauds the resilience of the Melbourne Victory FC AWT players, and we are proud that Australia has provided a platform for them to continue playing competitive football," and "would recognise and welcome all teams who successfully qualify" for the AFC Women's Asian Cup. The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification provides significant importance for future tournaments, doubling up as qualifying matches for the next FIFA Women's World Cup to be held in Brazil in 2027 as well as the Olympic Games at Los Angeles in 2028. Despite FIFA contradicting its own human rights policies of gender-based discrimination by deferring to the Afghanistan Football Federation, which refuses to support a women's team, it states that it "works with member associations to promote human rights and anti-discrimination", going against support for Afghan women's players. Increased advocacy has also come from Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody by letters to FIFA calling for overdue recognition for the team, while last month, Chair of the Australian Sports Commission, Kate Jenkins AO, campaigned for FIFA "to uphold its human rights policies regarding equal access and opportunity for women in football." For Sadat, the feeling of invisibility and being forgotten is not lost on her. "It's as [if] almost we don't even exist. It's as [if] almost FIFA do not even care about their own rule of equality. And equality is just a joke for them," she said. "It's non-existence. If equality was there, why shouldn't we be able to represent our country? If equality was there, why are the men's team still competing? We need to play side-by-side with our men's team." While the Afghanistan men's football side will compete in the 2024 AFC Cup Qualifying third round in March, their female counterparts status remains in limbo with FIFA and the AFC. "FIFA has been closely following the situation of the Afghan football community within the country and abroad, especially the situation of female players," a FIFA spokesperson said. "Ensuring access to football for both female and male players without discrimination and in safety is a key priority for FIFA. FIFA is therefore continuing to monitor the situation very closely and remains in contact with the Afghan Football Federation and other stakeholders." The AFC did not respond to requests for comment when contacted by ABC Sport. Separating a football family the way forward Playing in Football Victoria's league system, the Melbourne Victory FC AWT side provided stability for players to reintegrate fully into Australian life. As successful as the club was on the pitch, being promoted two of its three seasons to finish in the Women's State League 2, the decision was made mutually to disband the team as part of the push for a "good faith" selection framework and engaging with FIFA to recognise a national team. "We took on the responsibility and we've seen it through until the girls were ready to step back into that international phase or model of competition," Didulica said. "The hope is that they can keep getting better, keep pushing themselves with a view to putting their hand up for selection at the appropriate time under a good faith coach, in a good faith program, one that's taken care of, one that keeps them safe and one that allows them again to wear their country's badge without fear." Didulica said by facilitating transfers for players who have connected "like a family", it will create pathways for each individual to pursue interests to various clubs that match their ambitions and skill level. Some have already signed with NPL clubs, one tier below A-League Women. It is hoped that by doing so, the largest cohort of Afghan players residing in Melbourne, as well as other Afghan players connected to a national program around the world can be selected for a women's national team — an infrastructure that currently doesn't exist. A future for the girls of Afghanistan Sadat knows the motivation for the team's recognition comes not just for herself, but for the next generation of girls in Afghanistan. "We're here for you. We will never give up," Sadat said. "And if I'm dead, I'm sure there will be someone else who has the feeling of humanity and the feeling of freedom to speak up for you guys." For Yousufi it's just as clear as she thinks about home and loved ones left behind. "They're the real heroes, the real champions because everyday they're living there, they're suffering," she said. "It's been more than three years now. They're suffering from everything — not having that right to go out there, not having that right to be themselves. "I'm telling them, keep your hopes high. Until the end I'll have my voice. "I will try my best to be a good representative for those girls and women and hopefully to get that right back again."