Updated on: December 6, 2025 / 2:59 PM EST / CBS News
By day, Sodaba Khinjani might help clean your teeth at a dentist’s office. Rabia Yaqobi might cook your next meal. After work, the Afghan refugees play soccer together as part of Houston Shine FC.
Khinjani and Yaqobi fled Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, when the Taliban banned women’s sports. “Everybody that was in sport, was in kill list of Taliban,” Khinjani said. She was selected for the Afghan women’s national team at 14 but had to practice in secret. Her brother was killed by the Taliban; she said they sent his body. Khinjani has not seen her family in four years.
Coach Rachel Fabre said she is awed by the players’ perseverance. “The sheer magnitude, the trauma that they have been through to just get to this point here is massive,” Fabre said.
Most players work and send earnings home. “Sometimes I’m not eating, save money, send it [to] my mom because my mom needs it,” Yaqobi explained.
In May, FIFA announced an Afghanistan women’s refugee team made up of players resettled abroad, intended to allow participation in the 2027 Women’s World Cup. In September, however, FIFA told American-based players they could not attend international training camps that vet players for the official team, citing immigration and safety concerns — even though Shine players hold green cards. FIFA said it remains committed to providing opportunities to all players eligible for Afghan Women United who are not selected for the inaugural squad.
Khinjani said she will not give up. “I will fight with FIFA. I will fight with Taliban. I will fight about my rights,” she said.