Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 September 2023 to Question 198058 on Football: Afghanistan, whether she plans to hold discussions with FIFA on the Afghanistan Women's National (a) Team and (b) Development Team.

We have no plans to hold discussions with FIFA on the Afghanistan Women’s National Team or Development Team. I was delighted to attend their training session and meet the inspirational players during my recent visit to Australia for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. However, international sports federations operate independently of governments, as reflected in their own governance and regulation, therefore I am unable to intervene.