Afghan National Girls Soccer Team

SoccerSpace USA was founded in 2000 by Michael Karlin, a senior partner in a well-known law firm, Karlin & Peebles, LLP. Michael has volunteered for American Youth Soccer Organization for over 40 years, as a coach, referee, instructor and administrator.

SoccerSpace USA undertakes projects to support youth soccer. It is raising funds to help the Afghan National Girls Football (Soccer) Team and their families. The girls and families were evacuated from Afghanistan to Portugal in the Fall of 2021 thanks to the extraordinary work of the Afghan National Women's Team captain, Farkhunda Muhtaj, as reported by NPR and the BBC and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation .

Farkhunda is now coaching the team. She is also working with several organizations in Portugal, including the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, the Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPP), among others, to support the players and families, as they continue to train while adjusting to life in a foreign land, learning Portuguese and English and going to school. We need to buy soccer gear, clothes, and school supplies, to help with housing, and to support Farkhunda in her continuing efforts.

Soccer fans, supporters of girls empowerment, humanitarians everywhere, please join us! And thank you.