"From the Field to the Frontlines: Fighting for Freedom Through Football"

Khalida Popal is an award-winning Afghan football pioneer, activist, and advocate for women's rights in sports. She is the Founder and Director of Girl Power Organization, an international non-profit that empowers refugee, migrant, and marginalized women and girls through football, leadership education, and community engagement.

After co-founding and captaining the Afghanistan Women's National Football Team, Khalida was forced into exile due to threats against her activism. She has since dedicated her life to using sport as a tool for social change, building inclusive spaces where women and girls can reclaim their rights, their voices, and their futures.

Khalida is also the author of My Beautiful Sisters, a powerful memoir that highlights the journey, resilience, and collective story of the Afghanistan Women's National Team and their fight for the right to play and to live freely.

She has been internationally recognized for her courageous leadership, including her critical role in evacuating and advocating for Afghan female athletes after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Khalida continues to campaign for the recognition of the Afghan Women's National Team in exile, standing at the forefront of the global movement for equality, inclusion, and empowerment through sport.