World Football

In 2021, Afghanistan's women's national players fled Kabul to Australia, following the return to power of the Taliban. No women's team representing Afghanistan has kicked a ball in international football since.

We catch up with goalkeeper Fati, who's now living and studying in Melbourne, to find out what life's like in Australia, what she wants from FIFA, and how the Women's World Cup has impacted her.

Image: Footballer Fatima Yousufi speaks during the Angel City Equity Summit at Sydney Opera House on August 04, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Hanna Lassen/Getty Images)

Join Mani Djazmi and Katie Smith at Stadium Australia in Sydney as they reflect on England reaching the Women's World Cup final for the very first time after beating the co-hosts 3-1.

We hear from England's match-winner Lauren Hemp, and BBC Sport's Emma Sanders drops by to discuss how Sarina Wiegman has taken the European champions to the brink of becoming world champions.

Meanwhile, it's the end of the road for the Matildas. Former Australia international Elissia Carnavas joins us to reflect on their run to the semi-finals and discuss the legacy this tournament could have for the development of women's football in Australia.

Image: Players of England celebrate following victory during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 semi-final match between Australia and England at Stadium Australia on August 16, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Naomi Baker - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Maz Farookhi is in Auckland as Spain reach their first final in only their third World Cup finals appearance thanks to second-half strikes from teenage sensation Salma Paralluelo and captain Olga Carmona.

Joining Maz are Spanish radio reporter Sara Gutierrez and Swedish journalist Amanda Zaza to chat about the pulsating semi-final.

As it’s the final match in New Zealand, we’ll also be hearing about the significance of the Maori performing art, Poi, and why it’s been an ever-present at grounds across New Zealand during the competition.

Finally, Katie Smith is in Sydney ahead of the second semi-final between co-hosts Australia and the European Champions England.

Photo: Jennifer Hermoso of Spain celebrates with her teammates after winning the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Semi-Final match between Spain and Sweden at Eden Park on August 15, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Credit: Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Mani Djazmi and Katie Smith are in Sydney and Maz Farookhi is in Auckland for the final week of the Women’s World Cup. Ahead of the first semi-final between Spain v Sweden, former Spain captain Verónica Boquete chats to Maz about what makes this Spanish team special despite the players' complex relationship with head coach Jorge Vilda.

We also hear from Sweden and Everton defender Nathalie Bjorn on the excitement back home and learning from their past tournament failures, and Australia midfielder Tameka Yallop says they're peaking at the right time as the Matildas face England in the second semi-final.

Photo: Spain forward Salma Paralluelo celebrates scoring her team's second goal during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup quarter-final football match between Spain and the Netherlands at Wellington Stadium. (Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Join Maz Farookhi as she travels to Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand’s only professional football club to see the impact of the Women’s World Cup.

The club was founded in 2007 but the women’s team was only formed two years ago.

Maz chats with Phoenix head coach Paul Temple and Katie Barrott, female development lead at the club about what it’s like running the only professional women’s team in the country and how the World Cup will change New Zealand’s relationship with football.

Photo: Maz Farookhi with Paul Temple and Katie Barrott (Copyright: BBC Sport)

Mani Djazmi is in Brisbane, as co-hosts Australia reach the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup for the very first time after beating France 7-6 in a dramatic penalty shootout after it finished goalless after 120 minutes.

Mani speaks to ecstatic Australia fans outside the Brisbane Stadium, as Matildas mania sweeps across the country. We hear from a passionate Australia manager Tony Gustavsson after leading his history-making team into the last four, while France manager Herve Renard reflects on his side's dramatic exit from the tournament. An emotional Samantha Lewis from ABC News stops by to try and sum up what this achievement means for Australian women's football.

Elsewhere, Katie Smith is in Sydney speaking to more delirious Aussie fans following their historic win. Australia will face England in the semi-finals at Stadium Australia on Wednesday after coming from a goal down to beat Colombia. Katie reflects on a good night's work for Sarina Wiegman's side with former England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.

Image: (L-R) Mary Fowler, Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley of Australia celebrate the team’s victory through the penalty shootout following the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Quarter Final match between Australia and France at Brisbane Stadium on August 12, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Join Maz Farookhi in Wellington as Spain reach their first ever World Cup semi-final following a 2-1 victory over 2019 runners up Netherlands. A goal from Barcelona’s Salma Paralluelo in the 111th minute was enough for Jorge Vilda’s side to progress to the last four.

Maz spoke to Laia Cervello from The Athletic about the achievement and what it means for women’s football in the country. We'll also hear from Dutch journalist Jeroen van Barneveld about what went wrong for the Netherlands. Spain will meet Sweden for a place in the final after they beat Japan 2-1 in Auckland.

Meanwhile, Mani Djazmi is in Brisbane ahead of co-hosts Australia's quarter-final against France. Mani speaks to France manager Herve Renard about the challenge of facing a partisan Aussie crowd, while Australia manager Tony Gustavsson and defender Ellie Carpenter give us some insight into their preparations ahead of such a big game.

Katie Smith is in Sydney as European Champions England get ready to face Colombia.

Image: Salma Paralluelo of Spain celebrates after scoring her sides first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Quarter Final match between Spain and Netherlands at Wellington Regional Stadium. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Mani Djazmi, Maz Farookhi and Katie Smith are back together to preview the four quarter-finals.

Maz joins from Wellington to tell us about a quite extraordinary Netherlands press conference involving manager Andries Jonker and forward Lineth Beerensteyn ahead of their game against Spain. Beerensteyn doesn't hold back in her criticism of the USA.

Katie is in Sydney to talk about her chat with England midfielder Lucy Staniforth, and Mani speaks to the woman who is credited with coming up with the Matildas name for the Australia women's football team. She tells us the tale, which involved a mechanical kangaroo and a famous royal.

Image: Captain Sam Kerr of Australia speaks to her teammates in the huddle after her team’s 2-0 victory and advance to the quarter-final following the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Australia and Denmark at Stadium Australia on August 07, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Credit: Getty Images)

Katie Smith is in Melbourne where Colombia have made history, booking their spot in the last eight for the first time by beating Jamaica 1-0. Katie catches up with Colombian journalist Valentina Pena to talk about the battle of the underdogs - how does the team's mentality change when they are not the lower ranked side trying to defy expectations? Plus, she gets immersed in the Colombian after party as thousands of fans celebrate outside the stadium.

And after touching down in Brisbane, Mani Djazmi is joined by French football journalist Lisa Leroux and Moroccan football journalist Amine El Amri to reflect on France's 4-0 thrashing of Morocco in Adelaide, as the French set up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with co-hosts Australia on Saturday.

Photo: Catalina Usme of Colombia celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Colombia and Jamaica. (Credit: DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

There are huge celebrations in Sydney where Australia comfortably made it through to the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Denmark.

Mani Djazmi spoke to jubilant Matildas fans and the ABC’s Samantha Lewis to discuss the goals, increased expectations and the return of captain Sam Kerr for her first appearance at her home World Cup since being injured.

Plus, England survived a scare to beat Nigeria on penalties after it remarkably finished goalless after 90 minutes. Who will they face in the quarter-finals?

In Melbourne, Katie Smith has been to the Jamaica camp to speak to manager Lorne Donaldson and player Deneisha Blackwood ahead of their last-16 tie against Colombia.

Photo: Hayley Raso and Emily Van Egmond of Australia celebrate with team-mates after beating Denmark during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Australia and Runner Up Group D at Stadium Australia on August 7, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Credit: Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)