Effort to Rescue Girls Soccer Team From Afghanistan

Effort to Rescue Girls Soccer Team From Afghanistan
Khalida Popal, the former captain of Afghanistan's women's national soccer team, speaks in an interview from Copenhagen, Denmark, on Aug. 18, 2021. Reuters TV/Reuters
The Associated Press
Updated:

An international effort is underway to evacuate members of Afghanistan’s girls national soccer team and their families over fears of reprisal by the Taliban.

The effort, known as Operation Soccer Balls, suffered a setback last week after a suicide bomb was detonated at the airport in Kabul.

There have been at least five failed attempts to rescue the girls in recent days as they were moved around for their safety. Most members of the Afghan women’s team were evacuated to Australia last week.

The Taliban forbids women and girls to play sports.