VANCOUVER, April 28 (Reuters) - ⁠FIFA has approved a rule change allowing Afghan women footballers to ⁠play official international matches in FIFA competitions, giving players exiled since ‌the Taliban's return to power a route back into international football.

Afghanistan's women's national team has not played an official competitive international since before the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The Taliban ​authorities have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and ⁠girls, including restrictions affecting education, work ⁠and sport, forcing many female athletes to flee the country or abandon competition.