Born in Afghanistan, Khalida Popal played a prominent role in the formation of the her nation’s women’s national football team in 2007. After wearing the captain’s armband on the field, she later became the first woman to be employed by the Afghanistan Football Federation, initially as the Finance Officer and later as the Director of Women’s Football Committee.

With the women’s game increasingly seen as a focus of activism and advocacy, Popal received numerous threats from conservative religious elements in her country.  With her safety at stake, she was forced to flee Afghanistan in 2012. Popal eventually settled in Denmark, where she founded the international NGO Girl Power, which provides meaningful ways for women and girls to connect and thrive using sport and education.  Today, Girl Power is active across Europe and the Middle East. It is widely recognised for its success in furthering the cause of female social inclusion and highlighting the valuable contribution made by refugees, migrants and women and girls from minority backgrounds.

Popal and Girlpower have received numerous awards including the Theirworld Challenge Award, the Champion of the Year Peace and Sport Award and the Play the Game Award. Today, Popol travels the world to represent women who struggle to defend themselves and has given speeches at FIFA, UEFA, the United Nations and UNICEF.

Despite her exile, Popal retains a keen interest in the plight of women in her home nation.  With Afghanistan’s senior women’s team now exiled in Australia, she is at the fore of a campaign for it to be officially recognised by FIFA.