Nadim was part of ITV’s coverage of the 2022 World Cup and had been scheduled to work on Denmark’s group-stage meeting with Tunisia. During the live programme, she learned that her mother had been killed by a truck while returning from the gym.
She left the studio immediately. In her tribute, Nadim wrote: “Palavras não descrevem o que estou sentindo. Perdi a pessoa mais importante da minha vida.” The broadcaster later said its team was deeply shocked and had offered her support.
Her absence from the latest coverage should not be viewed only through that heartbreaking episode. Nadim’s life and career have long carried a depth that extends well beyond football.
Born in Afghanistan, Nadim left the country as a child after her father, an army general, was executed by the Taliban. She, her mother and four sisters eventually settled in Denmark as refugees.
It was there that football became part of her new life. Nadim went on to represent Denmark 108 times, building a reputation as a powerful striker and earning a move to Manchester City.
Nadim had already worked on ITV’s Euro 2020 coverage before stepping into the spotlight at the Qatar World Cup. Away from football, she studied medicine remotely at Aarhus University and has spoken about becoming a surgeon after retirement. She also speaks 11 languages.
She is currently focused on her playing career with HB Køge, but her broadcasting experience remains significant. The next storyline to watch is whether Nadim returns to major tournament television-or chooses to keep her public role centred on the pitch and her medical ambitions.