[CC] 00:50:47 Now she's one of 250 young women playing on 15 female soccer teams in Afghanistan. And she's the captain of the country's new national team. In period of Taliban it was very hard for my family especially. We always sat at corner of room thinking that how can we spend all of this life like this? No study. All sit at home. It's too hard. Reporter: the Taliban kept her out of school for more than four years. Now, at 18, she's nearly caught up and is looking forward college where she wants to study journalism or business. 16-Year-old Roia has similar dreams. What do you want to do? Doctor. Reporter: glamour magazine calls Awista its hero of the month. Next month the two girls will receive an Arthur Ashe courage award from ESPN. They faced so much tragedy and hardship and for them to be awarded now finally for showing the perseverance they have despite all of the challenges they face I think just will hopefully take soccer and girl so to the next level and out sports to the next level and show young girls can be role models in their own lives. The two will be in the United States at the end of July but they're taking a side trip to Germany with the state department group to watch the U.S. play Ghana notice world cup. 00:52:

O'BRIEN: Thirty teenagers from 13 countries now in the U.S. as part of a World Cup youth soccer delegation sponsored by the State Department. Two of those teenagers are young women from Afghanistan who've had their lives changed by an Afghan-American with some very big dreams.

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O'BRIEN: It looks like an ordinary day of soccer in New York City. But for these teens on this field and for many watching, this is much more than a game. AWISTA AYUB, AFGHAN YOUTH SPORTS EXCHANGE: I know that the future is very bright for Afghanistan, but it can't happen without cultivating future leaders, and that starts today.

O'BRIEN: Awista Ayub is a 26-year-old woman who came to the United States from Afghanistan at age two. She's always loved sports and felt empowered by athletic competition. So she started a nonprofit group called the Afghan Youth Sports Exchange.

AYUB: I thought of the idea soon after the fall of the Taliban.

O'BRIEN: The idea was to give youngsters in Afghanistan, especially girls and young women sidelined by the Taliban, the skills to become the next generation of leaders.

AYUB: It was one of those a-ha moments that just flows, and makes sense and feels very natural.

O'BRIEN: It all started with eight girls she brought to the U.S. for soccer camp in the summer of 2004. Two of those girls, Shamila Kohestani and Roia Ahmad, are back in the United States now. Awista has changed their lives.

SHAMILA KOHESTANI, AFGHAN SOCCER PLAYER: It's definitely change my life and I want -- I play football and I go to different countries for trips and for football. And I know about their culture.

O'BRIEN: Shamila had never played soccer until two years ago. Now she's one of 250 young women playing on 15 female soccer teams in Afghanistan. And she's the captain of the country's new national team.

KOHESTANI: In period of Taliban, it was very hard for my family especially. We always sat at corner of room thinking that how can we spend all of this life like this? No study. All sit at home. It's too hard.

O'BRIEN: The Taliban kept her out of school for more than four years. Now, at 18, she's nearly caught up and is looking forward college where she wants to study journalism or business. Sixteen year-old Roia has similar dreams.

(on camera): What do you want to do?

ROIA AHMAD, AFGHAN SOCCER: Doctor.

S. O'BRIEN (voice-over): Glamour magazine calls Awista its hero of the month. But she's not the only one being honored. Next month Shamila and Roia will receive an ESPY, called the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, from ESPN.

AYUB: They faced so much tragedy and hardship. And for them to be awarded now finally for showing the perseverance they have, despite all of the challenges they face, I think just will hopefully take soccer and girl so to the next level, and youth sports to the next level, and show that young girls can be role models in their own lives.

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O'BRIEN: Shamila and Roia were going to be in the United States until the end of July, but they're taking a side trip this week to Germany with that State Department group to watch the U.S. flay Ghana in the World Cup -- John.