Pauline Hamill: Leading the Afghan women's refugee team

Pauline Hamill is always up for a challenge.

She became the first female coach at Rangers when she was appointed to a youth development role in 2003. She has worked with Scotland’s women at Under-17 and Under-19 levels. More recently, she was head coach for the Saudi Arabia women’s Under-20 national team.

Now she is coaching the Afghan women’s refugee team as part of FIFA’s strategy for action.

FIFA’s support for the Afghan team

FIFA have pledged to aid Afghan players with individually tailored support, such as providing equipment and building connections with local clubs, facilitating access to counselling, media and social media training. They will also support them with identifying potential educational pathways and opportunities within football, including coaching and refereeing.

“I am confident that we have taken an important step in the right direction by offering these women the opportunity to play internationally while prioritising their safety and well-being,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said earlier in 2025. “This forms part of FIFA’s broader strategy, which includes support for Afghan women living in exile – helping them connect with existing football pathways – as well as continued engagement with stakeholders to also assist those in Afghanistan. We are proud of this, of having brought to life this pilot project, and our aim is to expand it in the future to include women from other countries as well.”