It breaks my heart: Afghanistan's female footballers make tearful calls for help amid Taliban takeover

Former Afghanistan footballer and director of the women's national team, Khalida Popal revealed she has been receiving calls for help from the women's national team footballers back in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover.

In frantic phone calls and voice messages, Khalida Popal can hear the distress and tearful pleas for help. The football players in the Afghanistan women's national team that Popal helped establish now fear for their lives after the Taliban swept to regain control of the country after two decades. When they call, all Popal can do is advise them to flee their homes, escape from neighbors who know them as pioneering players, and try to erase their history — particularly activism against the Taliban who are now re-establishing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.