The Tibetan Women’s Football Team has announced its withdrawal from the Confederation of Independent Football Association (CONIFA) Women’s World Football Cup 2024 due to complicated visa delays. Scheduled to compete in Norway from June 4th to 8th, the team faced bureaucratic hurdles that ultimately prevented their participation in the much-anticipated tournament.

Jangchup Gyalsten, the director of the Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA), expressed deep disappointment in an interview with Phayul. “As of June 3rd, the Tibetan Women’s Football Team was still awaiting the necessary visas to travel to Norway. Despite our efforts and continuous communication with embassy officials, the necessary visas for the team members were not issued on time. This situation has left us with no choice but to withdraw from the tournament,” he explained.

The withdrawal is a significant setback for the team, which had been training rigorously for over a month at the Dhondupling Tibetan Settlement in Dehradun. The 16-player squad, featuring three players from Nepal, one from the USA, and the remaining from India, had prepared intensely for their scheduled matches. They were set to face Sapmi on June 4, Tamil Eelam FA on June 5, and Székely Land on June 6.

Despite this disappointment, the Tibetan National Sports Association, in collaboration with the Ladakh Football Association, is determined to keep the spirit of the game alive. They have announced participation in a women’s tournament in Ladakh, featuring four teams, including the Tibetan women’s team. The tournament is set to commence on June 8, offering the players an opportunity to showcase their skills and maintain competitive momentum.

Reflecting on their past achievements, the Tibetan Women’s team had previously participated in the CONIFA Women’s Cup in July 2022. Notably, TNSA hosted the inaugural CONIFA Women’s World Football Cup at the Poanta Cholsum Tibetan Settlement in North India, in collaboration with CONIFA, marking a significant milestone for Tibetan football.

CONIFA, founded on June 7th, 2013, is a football federation that serves associations outside of FIFA. It is a global non-profit organization inclusive of all international football teams, regardless of their political backgrounds. The organization provides a platform for teams representing nations, de-facto nations, regions, minority peoples, and sports-isolated territories.

The Tibetan Women’s Football Team’s withdrawal from the 2024 CONIFA Women’s World Football Cup underscores the challenges faced by stateless Tibetans in countries like India and Nepal. However, their resilience and commitment to the sport remain unshaken, as they look forward to competing in the upcoming Ladakh tournament and beyond.