Elham Asaad Buaras
A new short documentary offers an intimate look at Sisterhood FC, the UK’s first Muslim women’s grassroots football team, exploring the intersection of sport, faith and community.
Directed by Sara Taleghani and produced by Untold Studios, Sisterhood follows co-founders Yasmin and Fathiya and their teammates as they create a space where Muslim women can play football without compromising their faith, identity or choice of clothing.
At the heart of the documentary is Yasmin, daughter of a former Somali footballer who fled the civil war and arrived in the UK as a child. Football became a source of identity and belonging, leading her to meet Fathiya at university and co-found Sisterhood FC, which aims to break down barriers preventing many Muslim women from playing the sport.
Director Sara Taleghani joined the team during the pandemic after moving to London from Ireland. Filmed over three years with a small crew, the documentary explores the friendship, resilience and community that shape the players’ lives on and off the pitch.
“I didn’t want to make a film about Sisterhood FC. I wanted to make a film that felt like being in Sisterhood FC,” Taleghani said.
“That warmth you feel the moment you arrive, the way every person who walks through that door is treated like they already belong — that’s what makes this team unlike any other I’ve ever played for, and that’s what I wanted the film to capture.”
The documentary comes amid continued barriers for Muslim women in sport. While FIFA approved religious head coverings, including the hijab, in 2014, restrictions persist in some countries.
France’s football federation still bans religious symbols in official competitions, with recent efforts seeking to extend similar restrictions across organised sport.
Sisterhood also highlights the grassroots club’s own challenges. Sisterhood FC offers free training and matches to keep football accessible, but a lack of funding for pitch access has left the team unable to play for the past year.
The film celebrates the club’s impact while calling for support to help its players return to the pitch. Following a private premiere and panel discussion at Untold Studios in London on August 13, the short film is now available to watch online through Untold Studios.
