Afghanistan national football team
Template:Pp Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox National football team
The Afghanistan national football team represents Afghanistan in men's international football and is controlled by the Afghanistan Football Federation. The Afghanistan Football Federation was established in 1922 and joined FIFA in 1948. It was also one of the founding members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1954.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Afghanistan claimed their first international football title and marked a historic moment for Afghan football when they became champions of the 2013 tournament of the SAFF Championship.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
History
Early history
Afghanistan played its first official international match under FIFA at the 1948 Summer Olympics, where it faced Luxembourg on 26 July and lost 6–0. Before 2002, the last recorded international appearance for the team was in the 1984 AFC Asian Cup qualification, where they lost 6–1 to Jordan on 20 September. The team did not participate in international football between 1984 and 2002 due to political instability, including the Soviet invasion, civil war, and Taliban rule, which banned recreational activities such as football.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2001–2010
Following the fall of the Taliban regime, Afghanistan re-entered the international football scene in 2002.
In 2003, the national team competed in the 2003 SAFF Gold Cup, but suffered defeats in all group stage matches against India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Later that year, Afghanistan took part in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification, managing a win against Kyrgyzstan but falling short after a loss to Nepal, thus failing to advance. The team also entered the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification for the first time, where they were eliminated by Turkmenistan with a 13–0 aggregate score.
In the 2005 SAFF Gold Cup held in Karachi, Pakistan, Afghanistan was defeated by the Maldives.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During the inaugural 2006 AFC Challenge Cup, the team earned draws against both Chinese Taipei and the Philippines, with goals from Hafizullah Qadami and Sayed Maqsood Hashemi securing the results.
In the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, Afghanistan was knocked out by Syria. The team participated in the 2008 SAFF Championship, where they lost to Bhutan and drew with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. However, they managed to top their qualification group for the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup but were eliminated in the final tournament after three consecutive defeats to India, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In the 2009 SAFF Championship, Afghanistan lost all three group matches—against Maldives, India, and Nepal—with their sole goal of the tournament scored by Hashmatullah Barakzai in a 3–1 loss to the Maldives.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
Afghanistan entered their third World Cup qualification campaign and faced Palestine in the preliminary round. The first leg was played in Tajikistan due to security concerns and ended in defeat. The second leg in Palestine ended in a 1–1 draw, with Balal Arezou scoring for Afghanistan, resulting in their elimination.
2011 SAFF Championship
In the 2011 SAFF Championship, Afghanistan achieved a dominant 8–1 victory over Bhutan, marking their second-biggest win in history. Balal Arezou scored four goals in that match. Afghanistan advanced to the semi-finals for the first time, defeating Nepal 1–0 after extra time, with Arzou scoring in the 101st minute. In the final, they lost 4–0 to India.
2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification
Afghanistan progressed from the first round of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification by defeating Bhutan over two legs. In the second round, they were eliminated after losses to Nepal and North Korea, despite a win over Sri Lanka.
2013 SAFF Championship winners
Template:See also Template:Football squad on pitch
Afghanistan entered the 2013 SAFF Championship as the highest FIFA-ranked team in the tournament, standing at 139th globally. They opened the competition with a dominant 3–0 victory over Bhutan, with goals scored by Amiri—regarded as one of Afghanistan's greatest players—Azadzoy, and Barakzai.
In their second group stage match, they continued their strong form with a 3–1 win over Sri Lanka, thanks to goals from Rafi, Amiri, and Barakzai.
In the semi-finals, Afghanistan faced host nation Nepal and secured a hard-fought 1–0 win, with Sandjar Ahmadi scoring the only goal in the 11th minute.
The final was a rematch of the 2011 edition against India.<ref name="Faqiryar: A real football fairytale">Template:Cite news</ref> This time, Afghanistan prevailed with a 2–0 victory, claiming their first-ever international football title and marking a historic moment for Afghan football.<ref name="Ahmadi reaping rewards for bravery">Template:Cite news</ref>
2014 AFC Challenge Cup
Afghanistan reached the semi-finals of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup but lost 2–0 to eventual champions Palestine. In the third-place match, they drew 1–1 with the Maldives and lost 8–7 in a penalty shootout. On 10 June 2014, the Afghanistan Football Federation moved from the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) to the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA). Later that year, the federation received the FIFA Fair Play Award at the 2014 Ballon d'Or Gala for its efforts to promote football under difficult circumstances.
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
On 9 February 2015, Slaven Skeledžić was appointed as head coach. The team started the qualifiers with a 6–0 loss to Syria but earned its first-ever World Cup qualification victory against Cambodia. After a poor run of results, Skeledžić resigned in October 2015. Peter Segrt took over in November and led the team to another win over Cambodia, 3–0.<ref name="Skeledzic: Afghan job my greatest challenge">Template:Cite news</ref> On 27 April 2015 the AFF signed a contract with a new sponsor called Alokozay Group of Companies.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2015 SAFF Championship
Template:See also This tournament marked Afghanistan's final appearance in the SAFF Championship before moving to CAFA. The team won all its group stage matches—beating Bangladesh 4–0, Bhutan 3–0, and Maldives 4–1. In the semi-final, they defeated Sri Lanka 5–0. The final was a rematch with India, which Afghanistan lost 2–1 after extra time.
2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
Following the SAFF Championship, Afghanistan had a chance to qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup through expanded qualifiers. After a second heavy loss to Japan (5–0), they needed a win over Singapore, which they secured 2–1. The team then played friendlies against Lebanon (lost 2–0) and Malaysia (1–1 draw). In February 2017, Otto Pfister was appointed as head coach. Afghanistan drew 1–1 with Vietnam in the qualifiers, but losses to Cambodia and Jordan ended their qualification hopes. In July 2018, the federation announced a friendly match against Palestine in Kabul—their first home game since 2013.<ref name="Otto Pfister, New Mentor For Afghanistan National Football Team">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2023 and 2025 CAFA Nations Cup
The 2023 CAFA Nations Cup was the first edition of the CAFA Nations Cup, the biennial international men's football championship of Central Asia organized by the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA). The event was held in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan from 10-20 June.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Afghanistan lost both games in Group B to Iran and Kyrgyzstan. Thus, finishing in last place in the tournanemnt.
The 2025 CAFA Nations Cup was the second edition of the CAFA Nations Cup. The event was held in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan from 29 August to 8 September. Afghanistan was allocated in Group B and lost their first match against Iran. Their second match is scheduled against Tajikistan on 1 September. Afghanistan's third and final match in Group B is scheduled against India is on 4 September.
Team image
Kit suppliers
| Kit manufacturer | Period |
|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon Adidas | 2005–2008 |
| Template:Flagicon Hummel | 2009–2020 |
| Template:Flagicon Jako | 2020–2023 |
| Template:Flagicon SIX5SIX | 2024–present |
Rivalries
Template:Further Afghanistan shares a sporting rivalry with Pakistan, which extends into football alongside other sports. In earlier decades, regular matches were held between the two national teams. However, diplomatic ties were severed following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, and years of civil war and political unrest prevented any further encounters until their football rivalry resumed in 2003.<ref name="RFERL222">Template:Cite news</ref>
Due to the deep historical, cultural, and political ties between the two nations, matches against Pakistan are highly anticipated and passionately followed by Afghan supporters. While the rivalry holds strong emotional significance in Afghanistan, interest in the fixture—and in football in general—tends to be less intense in Pakistan.<ref name="RFERL222" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Results and fixtures
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
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2024
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2025
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2026
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Coaching staff
Current coaching staff
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Template:Flagicon Vincenzo Alberto Annese |
| Assistant coach | Template:Flagicon Shabir Isoufi |
| Goalkeeping coaches | Template:Flagicon Manish Timsina Template:Flagicon Glyn Thompson Template:Flagicon Hamidullah Yousufzai |
| Equipment manager | Template:Flagicon Mahdi Shirzad |
| National Team manager | Template:Flagicon Samir Homauni |
| Media | Template:Flagicon Mustafa Hashimi |
| Fitness coach | Template:Flagicon Alin Dragos Hogea |
Manager history
- Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
| Name | Period | Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Notes | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 1941–1948 | |||||||
| Template:Flagicon Sardar Mohammad Farooq Khan Seraj | 1949 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
- Unknown (1950–1974)
- Template:Flagicon Vladimir Salenko (1975–1976)
- Template:Flagicon Sergei Salnikov (1976–1977)
- Template:Flagicon Nikolai Yefimov (1977–1978)
- Template:Flagicon Islam Gul[1] Template:Webarchive (1978–1979)
- Template:Flagicon Sayed Ahmad Zia Muzafari[2] Template:Webarchive (1979–1981)
- Template:Flagicon Khwaja Aziz (1981–1987)
- Template:Flagicon Gennadi Sarychev (1987–1988)
- None<ref group="note">From 1988 to 2003, Afghanistan didn't play any matches due to security concerns within the country.</ref> (1988–2003)
- Template:Flagicon Mir Ali Asghar Akbarzada (2003–2004)
- Template:Flagicon Mohammad Yousef Kargar (2004–2005)
- Template:Flagicon Klaus Stärk (2005–2008)
- Template:Flagicon Mohammad Yousef Kargar (2008–2014)
- Template:Flagicon Erich Rutemöller (2014–2015)
- Template:Flagicon Hossein Saleh (2015)
- Template:Flagicon Slaven Skeledžić (2015)
- Template:Flagicon Petar Šegrt (2015–2016)
- Template:Flagicon Anoush Dastgir (2016–2017)
- Template:Flagicon Otto Pfister (2017–2018)
- Template:Flagicon Anoush Dastgir (2018–2023)
- Template:Flagicon Abdullah Al Mutairi (2023)
- Template:Flagicon Ashley Westwood<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> (2023–2024)
- Template:Flagicon Usmon Toshev (2024–2025)
- Template:Flagicon Vincenzo Alberto Annese (2025–)
Players
Current squad
The following 23 players were named in the squad for the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Caps and goals are correct as of 29 August 2025 after the match against Iran.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection. Template:Nat fs r start Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break
- Notes
- INJ = Withdrew due to injury
- PRE = Preliminary squad
- RET = Retired from the national team
- SUS = Serving suspension
- WD = Withdrew due to non-injury related reasons
Individual records
Template:Updated<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Players in bold are still active with Afghanistan.
Most appearances
| Rank | Name | Caps | Goals | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zohib Islam Amiri | 71 | 6 | 2005–2024 |
| 2 | Faysal Shayesteh | 59 | 10 | 2014–present |
| 3 | Ovays Azizi | 48 | 0 | 2015–present |
| 4 | Omid Popalzay | 43 | 7 | 2015–present |
| 5 | Abassin Alikhil | 41 | 0 | 2011–2022 |
| 6 | Mustafa Hadid | 39 | 2 | 2008–2021 |
| 7 | Djelaludin Sharityar | 38 | 1 | 2007–2015 |
| 8 | Mustafa Azadzoy | 37 | 3 | 2013–present |
| 9 | Ahmad Hatifi | 34 | 4 | 2011–2016 |
| 10 | Zubayr Amiri | 33 | 5 | 2011–2022 |
| Sharif Mukhammad | 33 | 3 | 2015–present | |
| Farshad Noor | 33 | 4 | 2017–present |
Top goalscorers
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| Rank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Faysal Shayesteh | 10 | 59 | {{#expr:10/59 round 2}} | 2014–present |
| 2 | Balal Arezou | 9 | 29 | {{#expr:9/29 round 2}} | 2011–present |
| 3 | Khaibar Amani | 7 | 21 | {{#expr:7/21 round 2}} | 2015–2019 |
| Omid Popalzay | 7 | 43 | {{#expr:6/42 round 2}} | 2015–present | |
| 5 | Zohib Islam Amiri | 6 | 71 | {{#expr:6/71 round 2}} | 2005–2024 |
| Sandjar Ahmadi | 6 | 22 | {{#expr:6/22 round 2}} | 2011–2015 | |
| 7 | Hashmatullah Barakzai | 5 | 28 | {{#expr:5/28 round 2}} | 2007–2014 |
| Zubayr Amiri | 5 | 33 | {{#expr:5/33 round 2}} | 2011–2022 | |
| 9 | Jabar Sharza | 4 | 17 | {{#expr:4/17 round 2}} | 2017–present |
| Amredin Sharifi | 4 | 29 | {{#expr:4/29 round 2}} | 2013–present | |
| Noraollah Amiri | 4 | 31 | {{#expr:4/31 round 2}} | 2015–2021 | |
| Farshad Noor | 4 | 33 | {{#expr:4/33 round 2}} | 2017–present | |
| Ahmad Hatifi | 4 | 34 | {{#expr:4/34 round 2}} | 2011–2016 |
Competitive record
FIFA World Cup
AFC Asian Cup
Summer Olympics
| Summer Olympics record | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 1908 | Did not enter | ||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1912 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1920 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1924 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1928 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1936 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1948 | Preliminary round | 18th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 1952 | Did not enter | ||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1956 | Withdrew | ||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1960 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1964 | Did not enter | ||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1968 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1972 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1976 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1980 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1984 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1988 | |||||||||
| 1992 to present | See Afghanistan national under-23 football team | ||||||||
| Total | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Asian Games
| Asian Games record | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 1951 | Fourth place | 4th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 1954 | Group stage | 12th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 12 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 1958 | Did not enter | ||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1962 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1966 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1970 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1974 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1978 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1982 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1986 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1990 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1994 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1998 | |||||||||
| 2002 to present | See Afghanistan national under-23 football team | ||||||||
| Total | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 17 | — |
AFC Challenge Cup (2006–2014)
| AFC Challenge Cup record | Qualification record | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Squad | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | |
| Template:Flagicon 2006 | Group stage | 13th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | Squad | Qualified automatically | |||||||
| Template:Flagicon 2008 | Group stage | 8th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | Squad | 1st | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Template:Flagicon 2010 | Withdrew | Withdrew | |||||||||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 2012 | Did not qualify | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 2014 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Squad | 1st | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| Total | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | 11 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 19 | — | Template:Tooltip | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 4 | |
CAFA Nations Cup
| CAFA Nations Cup record | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2023 | Group stage | 7th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | Squad |
| Total | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | — |
SAFF Championship (2003–2015)
| SAFF Championship records | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 2003 | Group stage | 8th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 2005 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 11 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2008 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | |
| Template:Flagicon 2009 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 2011 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 7 | |
| Template:Flagicon 2013 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 2015 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 3 | Squad |
| Total | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | 27 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 48 | 42 | — |
Honours
Regional
- SAFF Championship
- South Asian Games
Silver Medal (1): 2010
See also
- Afghanistan women's national football team
- Afghanistan national under-23 football team
- Afghanistan national under-20 football team
- Afghanistan national under-17 football team
- Afghanistan national beach soccer team
- Afghanistan national futsal team
- Afghanistan Football Federation
- Roshan Premier League
- Football in Afghanistan
- Sport in Afghanistan
- Cricket in Afghanistan
Notes
Template:Notelist Template:Reflist
References
External links
- Afghanistan at AFC
- Afghanistan at FIFA
Template:Afghanistan national football team Template:Navboxes Template:Portal bar