Timeline Khalida Popal

Founder and former captain of Afghanistan's national women's football team. After fleeing the country she helped her players escape the Taliban and kept the team going in exile.

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Dashed left edge = started before this timeline · Dashed right edge = still ongoing

Khalida Popal 10

1987 Khalida Popal born in Kabul Khalida Popal is born in Kabul, Afghanistan.
2007 Khalida Popal founds Afghanistan's women's team Popal and friends start the first women's league and national team.
2008 Khalida Popal's team plays its first game Afghanistan beat an ISAF team 5–0 in Pakistan.
2010 Khalida Popal's team plays its first international Afghanistan play Nepal at the South Asian championship in Bangladesh.
2011 Khalida Popal flees Afghanistan After death threats, Popal leaves and later reaches Denmark, where she lives in a refugee camp.
2017 Khalida Popal wins the Peace and Sport award Popal is honoured for her work for women's football.
2021 Khalida Popal helps players escape the Taliban After the Taliban return, Popal helps evacuate national team players from Kabul.
2021 Khalida Popal's youth players reach the UK Young Afghan footballers she helped evacuate land in Britain.
2024 Khalida Popal publishes My Beautiful Sisters Popal's memoir is written with Suzanne Wrack.
2026 Khalida Popal's Afghan Women United recognised by FIFA The refugee team becomes eligible for international competition.