Afghan football star helps Mexican streetkids score World Cup goal

Freedom

Fearing for her life after Taliban threats, Popal fled, counting herself "one of the luckiest women in my country" that she escaped being shot like many women's rights activists.

Spending several years underground, she eventually made her way to a Danish asylum centre where she encouraged women to play football to help ease crippling stress and depression as they awaited the results of their applications.

Now living in Copenhagen, she runs the Girl Power Organization, a non-profit she founded that uses football and sport to help better integrate minorities, including immigrants and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Europe.

Although barriers are gradually crumbling for women in Afghanistan, said Popal, they still have to overcome significant hurdles to play football and take part in social activities.

Her home country is hardly alone - women footballers around the world need more funding, facilities and equal pay, she said, urging soccer's world governing body FIFA and local soccer federations to step up support.

"Football is my experience," said Popal, who also helped train the England Street Child World Cup team.

"It's all about team building, staying together, having networks, having friendship, happiness and feeling freedom. It empowers every woman around the world who plays this game."