"The situation in Afghanistan is very worrying and Fifa is monitoring it closely.

Fifa continues to be committed to making football grow globally, which includes the development of women's football in Afghanistan. ", The association writes in a statement.

"It is also clear that the situation on the ground is changing rapidly."

Sport is a controversial topic and most recently the Taliban controlled Afghanistan, women were not allowed to play sports at all.

Male relatives were allowed to play sports, but with restrictions.

"They should fly"

The women's national team's former captain, Khalida Popal tells the AP that the players' lives are in danger.

- I have told them that they should delete their accounts on social media, delete photos, escape and hide, she says.

- It is heartbreaking because during all these years we have worked to increase women's visibility and now I tell my women in Afghanistan to keep quiet and disappear.

They're hiding.

Most have left their homes and hid with relatives because their neighbors know they are football players.

The Afghan women's national team is ranked 152 out of 167 on Fifa's world rankings.