Australia and New Zealand will stage the first 32-team Women’s World Cup.

When one arrives in the Australian capital Sydney after an endless flight, a Qantas stewardess will announce that “We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, live and fly. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.”

In recent years, it has become modish in Australia to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land as the country grapples with its history of cruelly suppressing Aboriginal and Indigenous peoples. Last week, FIFA announced that First Nations and Māori flags will be flown at the upcoming Women’s World Cup “to reflect FIFA’s commitment to the Indigenous peoples of the tournament’s co-hosts”.

The world federation has a long history of not caring for human rights, so does flying these flag extend beyond glossy PR or not? On March 17, the Australian Indigenous Football Council (AIFC) wrote to FIFA, Gianni Infantino and outgoing secretary-general Fatma Samoura, calling on FIFA’s commitment to human rights to allow first nations bodies self-determination and control of their soccer destiny. They argue that FIFA has the obligation – enshrined in Article 3 of the FIFA Statutes – to uphold all internationally recognized human rights, including the 2007 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

However, FIFA simply did not respond to the letter. Neither did Football Australia, which has a long track record of ignoring Aboriginal and Indigenous communities.

Lawrence Gilbert sighs in exasperation at the marginalization. “We don’t want to have to go to Football Australia and go – ‘Oh, please, can we can we play against the New Zealand Maori?’ says Gilbert, the chairman of the AIFC. “We own the Australian teams built from the indigenous communities from the bottom-up and we’ll continue to self-determine our own footballing future.”

The AIFC and Maori Aotearoa Football (MAF) want self-determination, proper funding, grassroots programs and perhaps to stage an indigenous World Cup. All they have gotten so far is Aboriginal and Maori imagery as part of World Cup branding in FIFA’s PR campaign. Tournament organizers have promoted the use of flags, Indigenous art, statues, and armbands. “I call it Indigenous procurement. Not one cent is put towards a legacy towards the Indigenous communities,” says Gilbert. “All they want is for Aboriginal people to do a bit of dancing and then say ‘Aloha’.”

FIFA do not have a liaison officer to engage with indigenous people. Football Australia’s executive board has an entirely white outlook, but last year the governing body launched a National Indigenous Advisory Board as recommended by emeritus Professor John Maynard, author of the book Aboriginal Soccer Tribe. At school, Maynard was bullied for his Aboriginal heritage. He says the federation scored “some brownie points” with the installation of the advisory board and the support for the Voice – this year’s referendum on whether First Nations people will be recognized in the Australian constitution – and a reconciliation action plan.

The First Nations people form roughly 3% of the population and form the oldest living culture on earth, extending 65,000 years back, but Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders remain often alienated in Australian society after decades of brutal government policies.

“In many ways, it went beyond Apartheid,” says Karen Menzies, the first Aboriginal Matilda who later worked at the Human Rights Commission and as a social worker on the Stolen Generations Inquiry during the 1990s. “It went a step further in that it wasn’t just an incredibly segregated society where Indigenous people were discriminated and were denied access to opportunities and facilities and public infrastructure but they also had their children stolen.”

Menzies was stolen twice; first from her birthmother and then from her Anglo foster family. Yet, she was a trailblazer in the 80s playing for her national team. Today, First Nations players remain underrepresented. Lydia Williams and Kyah Simon made the World Cup squad, but there are no First Nations players in the Socceroos and the Olyroos.

“Soccer in Australia is in the same position as the country,” explains former player and human rights activist Craig Foster. “It’s being asked by First Nations people through the referendum to provide autonomy and self-determination. We’re seeing an immense amount of racism come out because of this referendum, you know, where people who are, you know, set against First Nations people having their basic rights or even recognition. And these two organizations are asking FIFA for the same thing. That’s why it’s a perfect time to have a conversation, including with FIFA, about what the future of Indigenous football looks like here and around the world.”

NB: FIFA and Football Australia did not reply to a request for comment. New Zealand Football said they “work closely with Māori Football Aotearoa already and have jointly delivered a number of programmes with them this year already. There are Māori members of the New Zealand Football executive committee.”