The Afghanistan women's soccer team will return to international competition, after a major decision from FIFA.

Soccer's global governing body approved a rule change allowing Afghan women players — most of whom live in exile — to represent their country in official matches without approval from the Taliban-controlled federation.

Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, women have been banned from participating in sports in Afghanistan. This ban forced many players to flee, and halted the national team — until now.

FIFA’s ruling centers on Afghan Women United, a group made up of players based across Europe, Australia, and the Middle East. The team was formed after the national program was dismantled. Since then, it has been working toward official recognition.

“This is a powerful and unprecedented step in world sport,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said. “By enabling Afghan women to compete for their country in official matches, we are turning principles into action.”

The rule allows the team to compete internationally for Afghanistan, even without backing from the country’s governing body. This is a rare exception reflecting the circumstances surrounding the program.

“We are tired of getting called refugee,” player Zainab Mozaffari told reporters, underscoring what the FIFA recognition means both on and off the field.

Vice captain Fatima Yousufi said the opportunity to return is something she has been waiting for.

“To wear the Afghanistan jersey again and hear the anthem… it feels like we’ve gained back something we lost,” she said.

What's Next for the Afghanistan Women's Soccer Team

The Afghanistan women’s soccer team has not played an official match since before its 2021 displacement. However, FIFA has supported the team via selection camps and development programs.

While the group is not eligible to enter all major competitions immediately, it is expected to begin playing during upcoming international windows.

“It’s just amazing to see the team now has a future,” Yousufi said. “Maybe not this World Cup, but maybe the next one.”

Miami will host the final phase of the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup from January 27-31, the governing body announced Tuesday at its 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver.

The decision brings the FIFA Champions Cup to the US for the first time, after Arsenal claimed the inaugural title in London earlier this year. The Gunners defeated Corinthians at Emirates Stadium in the first edition of the elite six-team tournament.

The Women's Champions Cup final phase includes semifinals, a third-place playoff, and the championship match. FIFA has not yet confirmed specific venues, though Hard Rock Stadium and Nu Stadium at Miami Freedom Park are the leading candidates.

Nu Stadium opened in April 2026 as Inter Miami's permanent home with 26,700 seats. Hard Rock Stadium offers larger capacity and established infrastructure for major international events.

ESPN's Jeff Kassouf reported Florida was originally expected to host the inaugural January 2026 event, but Arsenal pushed for London after qualifying.

The FIFA Women's Champions Cup gathers the top six women's club teams globally. Each participating club must win its respective continental confederation championship: UEFA for Europe, Concacaf for North and Central America, CONMEBOL for South America, and others.

The tournament fills the gap in years when 16-team Women's Club World Cup does not take place.

NWSL club Gotham FC finished third in 2026, and now has a shot at representing Concacaf again alongside the Washington Spirit, Club America, and Pachuca.

Ted Lasso is heading back to Richmond, as Apple TV dropped the Ted Lasso Season 4 trailer on Monday, confirming the hit comedy is returning August 5th after a three-year hiatus.

The teaser shows Jason Sudeikis as beloved coach Lasso presented with an entirely new challenge: leading Richmond's second-tier women's football team.

Ted returns to the fictional English club after Season 3's 2023 finale saw him depart for Kansas City to reunite with his son Henry. The season-ender foreshadowed women's football storyline, when publicist Keeley Jones proposed an AFC Richmond women's team to owner Rebecca Welton.

The Ted Lasso Season 4 trailer highlights themes of cultural resistance, opening with a fan approaching Lasso in an alley and saying, "Welcome back, Coach. Too bad you're coaching a bunch of girls, you wanker." The scene indicates gender barriers in English soccer will subsequently act as the season's central conflict.

Emmy winners Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca, Brett Goldstein as assistant coach Roy Kent, and Juno Temple as Keeley return to the core cast. Brendan Hunt reprises his role as Coach Beard, while Jeremy Swift returns as director of football operations Leslie Higgins.

Ted Lasso won 20 Emmy Awards across its first three seasons, including back-to-back Outstanding Comedy Series wins. Season 1 became the most Emmy-nominated comedy series in history, picking up 61 total nominations across all three seasons.

How to Watch 'Ted Lasso' Season 4 on Apple TV

The 10-episode series premieres August 5th on Apple TV, with episodes dropping every Wednesday through October 7th.

England named 17-year-old Erica Meg Parkinson to its latest squad, handing the midfielder a surprise call-up for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Iceland.

Parkinson plays for Portuguese top-flight side Valadares Gaia and has previously been involved in England’s youth teams. She joins the senior group as manager Sarina Wiegman looks to reshape the midfield, with Grace Clinton, Ella Toone, and Aggie Beever-Jones all sidelined with injuries. 

Beth Mead, meanwhile, is set to return after missing England’s last two World Cup qualifying wins over Ukraine and Iceland.

According to Wiegman, Parkinson earned the opportunity.

“She’s a very dynamic attacking midfielder and wants to go forward,” said the fifth-year Lionesses coach. “She’s very aggressive and pretty technical.”

Wiegman added that the teenager is not expected to move straight into the starting lineup.

“It’s a learning thing for her, but I do hope she can adapt quickly to the level that’s needed in our senior environment,” she said.

This month’s roster also included captain Leah Williamson despite a recent hamstring issue. Wiegman specified the Arsenal defender “had some small setbacks,” but is progressing well.

When Is the 2027 Women's World Cup?

The 32-team Women’s World Cup kicks off on June 24th, 2027 in Brazil.

The Lionesses currently sit atop Group A3 after tallying wins over Ukraine (6-1) and Iceland (2-0).

Sam Kerr delivered a trademark moment of brilliance in Tuesday's China vs Australia semifinal, lifting the Matildas over China 2-1 to book a spot in Saturday's AFC Women's Asian Cup final.

Kerr scored the game-winner in the 58th minute, rounding the goalkeeper after receiving a pass from Caitlin Foord. She then threaded the ball into the net from a tight angle as Chinese defenders sprinted toward the goal line.

Foord opened the scoring for the Matildas in the 17th minute after Ellie Carpenter's breakout run down the right wing. Carpenter played the ball into space for Mary Fowler, who subsequently cut it back for Foord to finish.

China later equalized in the 26th minute via Zhang Linyan's penalty. Clare Hunt accidentally headed a bouncing ball into Australia's penalty area, allowing Zhang to run onto the loose ball before making light contact with keeper Mackenzie Arnold. The Chinese forward went on to convert the awarded spot kick.

The China vs Australia match grew physical in the first half, as Chinese midfielder Wang Aifang received a yellow card for a studs-up challenge on Katrina Gorry in the 35th minute. Tuesday's showdown featured contrasting possession stats, with Australia holding 62% of the ball while China managed 10 shots in the first half compared to Australia's four.

Australia will next face either Japan or South Korea in the final as the Matildas seek their first Asian Cup title since 2010.

Six members of the Iran national football team remained in Australia after exiting the 2026 AFC Asian Cup this week, after Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke granted several members asylum following days of international pressure.

The incident began when the players stood silent during Iran's national anthem before their March 2nd match against South Korea. Iranian state television labeled them "wartime traitors" for the silent protest, with the team opting to sing the anthem in their subsequent two matches.

Five players initially received asylum on Monday, later joined by a sixth player and one staff member. The group me at a secure location where Burke finalized their humanitarian visas. Social media photos showed the women smiling and clapping as Burke signed the documents.

One player later changed her mind, deciding not to accept the visa after speaking with teammates. Burke told Parliament the woman contacted the Iranian embassy, creating a domino effect in Sydney.

"Unfortunately, in making that decision she was advised by her teammates and coach to contact the Iranian embassy," he said. "As a result of that, it meant that the Iranian embassy now knew the location of where everybody was."

The Iran national team arrived in Australia for the Women's Asian Cup before US-Israeli strikes began on February 28th. Upon its group-stage elimination, players faced the prospect of returning to a war-torn country.

US President Donald Trump inserted himself into the conversation Monday, saying he would grant asylum to the players if Australia refused. Trump later praised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after the players received protection.

Australia did not offer visas to staff said to have connections to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, with the returning team members departing Sydney on Tuesday en route to Tehran.

"There were some people leaving Australia who I am glad they're no longer in Australia," Burke added.

The Iran women's national soccer team made headlines this week, after Australia granted asylum to five players following their 2026 AFC Asian Cup exit.

"We're willing to provide assistance to other women in the team, noting that this is a very delicate situation, and it is up to them, but we say to them, if you want our help, help is here, and we will provide that," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters.

The team declined to sing the Iranian national anthem prior to its opening match against South Korea last week, prompting widespread fears for the athletes' safety after Iran's state-run media labeled them "traitors."

Iran exited the ongoing Asian Cup after three group-stage losses on Sunday, as the US and Israel's growing conflict with the nation coincided with the team's trip overseas.

Australian police assisted the five Iran soccer players leave their Gold Coast team hotel in Monday's overnight hours, with Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke initially issuing humanitarian visas to the athletes before the country granted them full asylum hours later.

"I don't want to begin to imagine how difficult that decision is for each of the individual women, but certainly last night it was joy, it was relief," said Burke, posting photos with the players to social media. "People were very excited about embarking on a life in Australia."

Less than two weeks before kickoff, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced plans to postpone this month's Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals, citing "unforeseen circumstances."

Originally scheduled to start in Morocco on Tuesday, March 17th, and run through Friday, April 3rd, the 2026 WAFCON competition functions as a 2027 World Cup qualifying event for African national teams.

"Preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026 are underway and all the parties are confident that it will be very successful," CAF said in a statement on Thursday.

CAF's tournament finals will now run from Saturday, July 25th, to Sunday, August 16th — a shift that could pose challenges for NWSL clubs who will likely miss major players for a full month in the middle of the league's 2026 season.

NWSL stars like back-to-back reigning MVP Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current, Malawi), 2024 MVP finalist Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, Zambia), and reigning WAFCON champion Michelle Alozie (Chicago Stars, Nigeria) are all probable call-ups to their national team rosters for the continental competition — among others.

Between the WAFCON scheduling shift and the US league's previously set month-long June pause for the 2026 Men's World Cup, NWSL fans are now unlikely to see some of the league's top athletes for much of the summer.

Mattel released Barbie's first-ever Dream Team for International Women's Day, creating one-of-a-kind dolls honoring eight women who led the way in their industries — including top women's sports athletes.

The 2026 lineup is headlined by tennis legend Serena Williams. Pro footballer Chloe Kelly, surfer Stephanie Gilmore, and cricketer Smriti Mandhana also feature, among others.

"Barbie has always championed the belief that girls can be anything," said Mattel's head of Barbie Nathan Baynard. The brand has spotlighted more than 100 women across all industries since its 1959 debut.

"I have always drawn inspiration from the powerful women in my life — from my mom, sisters, and daughters, to the dolls in my toy box growing up," 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams said.

"Just like so many women have empowered me to turn my fear into courage and doubt into confidence, I hope we can do the same by championing girls everywhere to pick up a racquet, become an entrepreneur, or do whatever ignites their passion and brings their dreams to life."

The first woman to score centuries in all three international formats, Indian vice-captain Mandhana is Barbie's first Women's Day cricketer. "I never imagined that one day there would be a one-of-a-kind Barbie made to look like me," she said.

Australia's Gilmore was the first women's surfer to win eight World Championship titles. And Arsenal star Kelly — England's first Barbie-recognized footballer — scored the winning penalty goal in the 2024 Euro final.

"I dreamed about winning trophies and big moments in football, but I never imagined a different kind of milestone like this," Kelly said. "I hope it shows young girls that they can grow up playing with Barbie dolls and with footballs... You can love it all."

Where to Buy Barbie Dream Team International Women's Day Dolls

Mattel's International Women's Day celebration continues with Barbie Dream Days. Starting March 8th, the week-long sales event features offers on dolls and accessories via major US retailers.

The three-day Barbie Dream Fest fan festival subsequently kicks off on March 27th in Fort Lauderdale.

Spain's women's football federation is launching its 2026 International Women's Day campaign, with the reigning world champions announcing "Dream Without Limits" initiatives throughout the week.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation turned its social media channels purple to honor International Women's Day, and installed a commemorative banner at Madrid's Ciudad del Fútbol headquarters featuring Spain's world champions and UEFA Women's Nations League winners. The "Dream Without Limits" slogan aims to inspire the next generation of footballers.

Spain's 2027 Women's World Cup qualification matches will showcase the International Women's Day activities, with the team set to kick off against Iceland on March 3rd at SkyFi Castalia Stadium in Castellón. Ukraine will then host Spain on March 7th at Mardan Antalyaspor Stadium in Turkey.

During the match, Spain's players will wear shirts reading "Dream Without Limits," while the message simultaneously appears on the stadium's Jumbotron. Girls from local soccer clubs will carry the center-circle banner, strengthening connections between today's team and tomorrow's football stars.

The RFEF says it remains committed to promoting equality under president Rafael Louzán, as it continues to develop projects aimed at achieving equity across the sport.

Spain won the 2023 World Cup alongside back-to-back Nations League titles. The team currently ranks No. 1 in FIFA's world rankings.