Afghanistan national football team

Last updated • 16 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Afghanistan
Afghanistan Football Federation logo.png
Nickname(s) The Lions of Khurasan [1]
Association Afghanistan Football Federation
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation CAFA (Central Asia)
Head coach Usmon Toshev
Captain Zohib Islam Amiri
Most caps Zohib Islam Amiri (70)
Top scorer Faysal Shayesteh (10)
Home stadium Ghazi Stadium
FIFA code AFG
Kit left arm afg24h.png
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Kit body afg24h.png
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Kit right arm afg24h.png
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Kit shorts afg24h.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks whitetop.png
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
Kit left arm afg24a.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body afg24a.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm afg24a.png
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Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 156 Decrease2.svg 1 (19 December 2024) [2]
Highest122 (April 2014)
Lowest204 (January 2003)
First international
Flag of Afghanistan (1931-1973).svg  Afghanistan 0–0 Iran  State Flag of Iran (1925).svg
(Kabul, Afghanistan; 25 August 1941) [3]
Biggest win
Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan 1–8 Afghanistan  Flag of Afghanistan (2004-2013).svg
(New Delhi, India; 7 December 2011)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan 11–0 Afghanistan  Flag of Afghanistan (2002-2004).svg
(Ashgabat, Turkmenistan; 19 November 2003)
CAFA Nations Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2023 )
Best resultGroup stage (2023)
SAFF Championship
Appearances7 (first in 2003 )
Best resultChampions (2013)
AFC Challenge Cup
Appearances3 (first in 2006 )
Best resultFourth place (2014)
Medal record

The Afghanistan national football team (Persian : تیم ملی فوتبال افغانستانTīm-e Millī-e Fūtbāl-e Afghānestān) is the national football team of Afghanistan and is controlled by the Afghanistan Football Federation. Founded in 1922, they played their first international game against Iran in Kabul, 1941. Afghanistan then joined FIFA in 1948 and the AFC in 1954, as one of the founding members. They play their home games at the Ghazi National Olympic Stadium in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. In 2013, Afghanistan won the 2013 SAFF Championship and earned the "FIFA Fair Play Award". Afghanistan has never qualified for the AFC Asian Cup. [4]

Contents

History

Early history

Afghanistan national football team in the 1920s Afghanistan national football team in 1920s - in Kabul, Afghanistan.jpg
Afghanistan national football team in the 1920s

Formed in 1922 and affiliated to FIFA since 1948, the Afghanistan Football Federation was one of the founding members of the Asian Football Confederation in 1954. [5]

The first football club established in the country, Mahmoudiyeh, was founded in 1934. Three years later the team traveled to India and took part in 18 games of which they won 8, lost 9 and drew 1. The second football club founded was Ariana Kabul which was established in 1941. This team traveled to Tehran, Iran upon invitation, played 3 games, winning one game and losing two.

Afghanistan's only appearance and first FIFA international match was at the Olympic Games football tournament in the 1948 Summer Olympic Games when they played Luxembourg on 26 July 1948 and lost 6–0. Prior to 2002, Afghanistan was last seen on the international stage during the 1984 AFC Asian Cup qualification, with its last match lost 6–1 against Jordan on 20 September 1984. Afghanistan played no international games from 1984 to 2002, due to the latter years of the Soviet–Afghan War, civil war in Afghanistan (1992–1996), and the Taliban regime's ban on recreational activities, including football. [6]

2001–2010

Following the demise of the Taliban regime, the Afghan national team eventually returned to the international arena in 2002, when they played South Korea in the Asian Games, losing 2–0. Afghanistan participated in their first international tournament in the 2003 SAFF Gold Cup, where they lost all three group stage matches to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Later in the same year, Afghanistan took part in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification where they won against Kyrgyzstan but lost to Nepal and failed to make it to the next round.

Afghanistan started its FIFA World Cup campaign for the first time in 2003 where they played Turkmenistan in 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification. They lost both matches in aggregate of 13–0. This was the first time Afghanistan participated in FIFA World Cup qualification though they had been affiliated since 1948. The team went to Pakistan to take part in the 2005 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup, which they lost to the Maldives. [7]

Match scene between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan in a FIFA World Cup qualification match in Kabul, 2003 Afg-tkm-2003.jpg
Match scene between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan in a FIFA World Cup qualification match in Kabul, 2003

They also participated in the first edition of the AFC Challenge Cup in 2006, for which they drew both matches with Chinese Taipei and the Philippines with Afghan footballers Hafizullah Qadami and Sayed Maqsood Hashemi both scoring to produce a drawn result, and on their second world cup campaign in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification were eliminated by Syria.

In the SAFF Championship 2008 Afghanistan lost to Bhutan but drew with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Afghanistan entered the second round of the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008, [8] by winning in group D of the AFC Challenge Cup Qualification, drawing with Bangladesh and winning against Kyrgyzstan. In the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, Afghanistan lost all group matches to India, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. In 2009 SAFF Championship Afghanistan lost all its matches to Maldives, India and Nepal. Hashmatullah Barakzai scored Afghanistan's only goal against Maldives in that loss. [9]

2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Afghanistan competed in their third World Cup qualifying campaign playing the first leg of their first match against Palestine in Tajikistan due to security reasons, which they lost, and the second leg of the match in Palestine which they drew with Balal Arezou scoring, meaning they failed to advance to the second round and were eliminated.

2011 SAFF Championship

Players are celebrating after winning their 2011 SAFF Championship Semi-final against Nepal Ahmad Faisal - football - B.jpg
Players are celebrating after winning their 2011 SAFF Championship Semi-final against Nepal

In 2011 SAFF Championship Afghanistan defeated Bhutan 8–1, the 2nd biggest victory in the history of the Afghanistan football team. In this match, Balal Arezou scored the only hat-trick of the competition with 4 goals and the team scored the quickest goal of the tournament through Ata Yamrali in the third minute. It was Afghanistan's first Semi-final. In the Semi-final of the tournament, the Afghans faced Nepal whom they beat 1–0 in extra time with the only goal scored by Balal Arezou in the 101st minute. It was the first win of Afghanistan over Nepal. In the final, Afghanistan played India to whom they lost 4–0.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup

Afghanistan defeated Bhutan 5–0 in 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification. In the first leg, they beat Bhutan 3–0 with Sidiq Walizada scoring all 3 goals, and 2–0 in the second leg. In the second qualification round, Afghanistan lost to Nepal and North Korea, whilst beating Sri Lanka but failed to qualify for the next stage.

Afghan Premier League

For the first time in the football history of Afghanistan the AFF announced a league where 8 teams will compete against each other. The league was established in 2012 with the first season running through September and October of that year. 8 teams were concurrently established in 2012 to become the inaugural competitors. [10]

Players for the league were found through a reality television show called Maidan e Sabz ("Green Field"). [11] The concept came from the Afghanistan Football Federation and the Afghanistan-based MOBY Group, which owns a number of TV channels and radio stations and is the largest media group in the country. MOBY Group channels will broadcast matches. Players were voted onto teams by a jury and by the television audience. Eight teams of 18 players, one from every region, were formed. [12]

The Afghan High Peace Council has praised the creation and development of the League as an, "opportunity to bring peace and stability" to Afghanistan. [10]

2013 SAFF Championship winners

Hamidullah Karimi with the SAFF Championship trophy after their win against India Hamid Karimi.jpg
Hamidullah Karimi with the SAFF Championship trophy after their win against India

On 20 August 2013 before the 2013 SAFF Championship Afghanistan played Pakistan in a FIFA approved friendly for the first time in 36 years. This was also the first time on home ground after a decade which ended with a 3–0 victory over Pakistan with goals from Sandjar Ahmadi, Ahmad Hatifi and Maruf Mohammadi. [13]

Afghanistan entered the 2013 SAFF Championship as the highest ranked team by FIFA in the tournament placed at 139th. Afghanistan started the campaign with a 3-goal victory over Bhutan, with goals from Amiri also known as Afghanistan's best ever player, Azadzoy and Barakzai. The second match again ended with a 3–1 victory over Sri Lanka with goals from Rafi, Amiri and Barakzai. The Semi-final of the tournament was the repeat of last year's edition with Afghanistan again defeating Nepal with a solitary goal of Sandjar Ahmadi, that took Afghanistan in to the final of the tournament against India once again. Mansur Faqiryar of Afghanistan showed an outstanding goalkeeping performance by saving two back to back penalty kicks from Nepal in the last minutes of the match. The Final match of the tournament saw the 2011 SAFF Championship finalists again at Dashrath Stadium Nepal, where Afghanistan outplayed the defending champions India by 2 goals. [14] Afghanistan showed an outstanding performance. Goals from Azadzoy and Sandjar Ahmadi in each half of the game put the Afghan football team in front, to claim their first SAFF Championship title in their history. [15] Mansur Faqiryar was named the best player of the tournament, for his outstanding goal keeping skills throughout the tournament.

AFC Challenge Cup 2014

In the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup, Afghanistan did well to reach the Semi-final, losing to the eventual champions Palestine, 2–0. They finished their campaign in fourth spot, the country's highest finishing place in the short term the cup has existed, losing to Maldives on a penalty shoot out: (7–8) after a 1–1 draw for third spot of the competition. On 10 June 2014 Afghanistan Football Federation moved from South Asian Football Federation SAFF to the CAFF. At the 2014 Ballon D'or ceremony, the Afghanistan Football Federation won the FIFA Fair Play Award. Afghanistan was honored with the award for the outstanding performance of the Afghanistan football during the year, despite the chaos of war and difficult political situations the country is facing. FIFA made a statement and posted on its website that "Following a year of remarkable achievement in grassroots level football, building infrastructure to further develop football throughout the country and nurturing a professional league despite enduring over a decade of disorder stemming from war, Afghanistan has been presented the 2013 FIFA Fair Play Award."

2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Afghan national team before the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Japan, Azadi Stadium Afghan national football team, 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, Azadi Stadium.jpg
Afghan national team before the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Japan, Azadi Stadium

On 9 February 2015, it was confirmed that the AFF signed a new coach for the national team. German-Bosnian trainer Slaven Skeledzic, signed a 1-year contract with the AFF. The new trainer had earlier coached the under 17 and under 19 teams in Germany. Skeledzic played football in Germany and coached youth teams in the Bundesliga. [16] On 27 April 2015 the AFF signed a contract with a new sponsor called Alokozay Group of Companies. [17]

Afghanistan began the qualification with a 6–0 loss against Syria. After this match they had to play against lower ranked Cambodia. They won their first World Cup qualification match in the history of Afghanistan football. In their 3rd match against Japan, Afghanistan lost again 6–0. Against Singapore they lost 1–0. They lost 5–2 against Syria. In October 2015 the AFF forced Skeledzic to resign from his position, after the 5–2 defeat against Syria. In November 2015, the Afghan National Team announced that Petar Segrt was appointed as the new head coach. With a new coach and new players Afghanistan won their 2nd match against Cambodia with 3–0. After the qualifications the SAFF Championship started. [18]

2015 SAFF Championship

This was the last edition of the SAFF Championship where the national team of Afghanistan would play. After the team was announced Afghanistan began preparing for the tournament. They were in a group of 4 countries which was: Maldives, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan. Afghanistan won the first match 4–0 against Bangladesh. After they won the second match against Bhutan 3–0 they qualified for the semi-finals. They won their last match against Maldives 4–1. In the semi-final Afghanistan had to play against Sri Lanka. The match ended in a 5–0 win for Afghanistan. Eventually after reaching the final quite easily, Afghanistan had to play against tournament favorite India. This was a replay of the finals in the 2011 and 2013 SAFF Championships. After 90 minutes the match ended in a 1–1 draw. After this moment India scored the 2–1 and won the 2015 SAFF Championship for the 7th time. Khaibar Amani was given the topscorer of the tournament award with 4 goals.

2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Afghan supporters watching their national team play against Japan during 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification in Azadi Stadium, Tehran. Afghanistan national football team supporter in Tehran.jpg
Afghan supporters watching their national team play against Japan during 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification in Azadi Stadium, Tehran.

When the tournament ended Afghanistan still had a chance to qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. After their second loss against Japan with a 5–0 defeat, Afghanistan had to win against Singapore to qualify as 4th best in their group. And so they did with a 2–1 win against Singapore and a qualification spot for the 3rd round of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

After the World Cup qualification ended, Afghanistan played some friendly games. In September against Lebanon which the game ended in a 2–0 win for Lebanon. In October against Malaysia which ended in a 1–1 draw. Before the match against Tajikistan Segrt called up 24 players which did not include the player Zohib Islam Amiri because the player previously made the decision to not play anymore for Afghanistan. But without letting Segrt know the AFF did included Amiri in the squad. Segrt disagreed with the AFF and made the decision to quit as the head coach of the national team. This was just after his 1-year anniversary with the national team. The match against Tajikistan ended in a 1–0 loss for Afghanistan. Anoush Dastgir led the team as interim coach for this match.

In February 2017, the AFF announced the signing of Otto Pfister as the new head coach of the national team. [19] Afghanistan played a friendly game against Singapore before the Asian Cup qualification match against Vietnam. Afghanistan won the game with 2–1 with goals from Mukhammad and Azadzoy. [20] The important Asian Cup qualification match against Vietnam ended in a 1–1 draw with a goal from Hassan Amin. [21] However, Afghanistan since then has suffered a serious setback. In the match against opponent Cambodia in Phnom Penh, which Afghanistan once defeated 4–0, Afghanistan had shocked by losing 0–1 against the same rival. Later, Afghanistan suffered second defeat, this time against Jordan, with the score 1–4 in Amman. Between two official qualification matches, Afghanistan also lost 0–2 to Oman in a friendly match. Afghanistan's late effort later only helped them to manage a 3–3 draw against Jordan, and Afghanistan was near the verge of being eliminated if they could not defeat Vietnam in the fifth match. At the crucial match against Vietnam in Hanoi, despite Afghanistan had nearly outplayed the host, failed efforts and bad lucks had prevented Afghanistan to seal a victory, as the match ended 0–0, effectively eliminated Afghanistan from the qualification while Vietnam went to seal the ticket to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup with Jordan, after 1–0 victory over Cambodia. Afghanistan played their last match against Cambodia who also failed to qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. The match ended in a 2–1 victory for Afghanistan. [22] After the match it was announced that Pfister will leave his job and that Anoush Dastgir will be the new head coach of the national team with the addition of Shabir Isoufi as the new assistant coach of Afghanistan. [23] [24] On 13 July 2018 it was announced that Afghanistan will play a friendly game in Kabul, Afghanistan for the first time since 2013 against Palestine. [25]

Team image

Home stadium

The Ghazi Stadium in Kabul, which is now referred to as the Afghan Football Federation Stadium Ahmad Faisal - football - D.jpg
The Ghazi Stadium in Kabul, which is now referred to as the Afghan Football Federation Stadium

Major football matches in Afghanistan are held at the Afghan Football Federation Stadium (popularly known as the Ghazi Stadium) in Kabul. It was built in 1923 during the reign of King Amanullah Khan, who is regarded as Ghazi (Hero) for the Afghan victory in the Third Anglo-Afghan War and gaining independence for his nation after the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919. The stadium has the capacity to house 25,000 people. The first international football match hosted there was played between Iran and Afghanistan in 1941 and ended as a draw, 0–0. Their 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification second leg match was played at the Ghazi Stadium against Turkmenistan which Afghanistan lost 2–0, having previously lost the first leg 11–0. The stadium is maintained and controlled by the Afghanistan Football Federation. The Afghan Premier League and other local football tournaments take place in the stadium. The Ghazi Stadium was renovated in 2011 after the entire ground was removed and replaced with new soil and artificial turf placed on top. The stadium now holds bigger sporting events. The proposed construction of a new national stadium was completed in the 2013/2014 season which cost 25 million euros. [26] In 2015, FIFA helped the AFF with the reconstruction of new youth teams and develop also women's football for the national team. [27]

Kit

Since 2002 until 2004, the Japanese sports brand ASICS was the sponsor for the national team. From 2005, the German sports brand Adidas was the sponsor of the national team until 2008. In 2009, the Danish sports brand Hummel equipped the national team. In 2011 the Afghanistan Football Federation had signed a four-year contract with Hummel, to provide both the men's and women's national teams with all of the sportswear from 2011 to 2015. [28] On 6 March 2015, the Afghan Football Federation signed a new four-year contract with Hummel till 2019. On 27 April 2015, the AFF signed a contract with a new sponsor called Alokozay Group of Companies. This sponsor will be on the shirts of the national team. [29] Hummel released in 2016 the new kits for Afghanistan. It included an integrated hijab for the female Afghanistan footballers to play with while being covered from head to toe. [30] In December 2018, Hummel announced that it will no longer sponsor Afghanistan's football association after allegations emerged of physical, psychological and sexual abuse committed by male employees against the country's women's national team's players. [31]

PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
2005-2008 Adidas
2009–2020 Hummel AGC (Alokozay Group of Companies)
2020–2023 JAKO AGC (Alokozay Group of Companies)
2024–presentSIX5SIXAGC (Alokozay Group of Companies)

Sponsors

Alokozay, MOBY Group, Lemar & TOLO are the national team's sponsors.

Flag

The Afghanistan national team still uses the old tricolor flag of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (the internationally recognized flag of Afghanistan) instead of the white flag of the Taliban government, despite the group's takeover of the country in 2021. [32]

Rivalries

Afghanistan is currently rivals with Pakistan in many sports, including cricket and football. The national teams of Pakistan and Afghanistan regularly held sporting events in early years, but diplomatic ties were cut after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. The ensuing civil war and political instability in Afghanistan prevented the two sides from meeting again until 2003. [33] Due to the historical, cultural and political relationship between the two countries, contests against Pakistan generate much enthusiasm amongst Afghan football fans on account of their mutual relations and have been referred to as a "rivalry", [33] [34] [35] although the interest in Pakistan toward the rivalry and for football in general is more muted. [36]

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixture

2024

21 March 2024 (2024-03-21) 2026 World Cup qualifiers Afghanistan  Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg0–0Flag of India.svg  India Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia
22:00  UTC+3 Report Stadium: Damac Club Stadium [note 1]
Attendance: 3,900
Referee: Kim Hee-gon (South Korea)
26 March 2024 (2024-03-26) 2026 World Cup qualifiers India  Flag of India.svg1–2Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan Guwahati, India
19:00  UTC+5:30
  • Chhetri Soccerball shade.svg38' (pen.)
Report
Stadium: IGA Stadium
Attendance: 8,932
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hoish (Saudi Arabia)
11 June 2024 (2024-06-11) 2026 World Cup qualification Kuwait  Flag of Kuwait.svg1–0Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan Kuwait City, Kuwait
18:45  UTC+3 Al Rashidi Soccerball shade.svg81' Report Stadium: Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
16 November 2024 (2024-11-16) Friendly Nepal    Flag of Nepal.svg2–0Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan Dushanbe, Tajikistan
18:00  UTC+5
Report Stadium: Pamir Stadium
19 November 2024 (2024-11-19) Friendly Tajikistan  Flag of Tajikistan.svg3–1Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan Dushanbe, Tajikistan
18:00  UTC+5
Report
Stadium: Pamir Stadium

Coaching staff

PositionName
Head coach Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Usmon Toshev
Assistant coach Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Shabir Isoufi
Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Mohammad Faizi
Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Ali Yarzada
Goalkeeping coach Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Hamidullah Yosufzai
Conditioning coach Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Siyar Kabiri
Fitness coach Flag of India.svg Saravanakumar
Physiotherapist Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Sadeq Morfez
Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Mortaz Ashgar
Sports-masseur Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Danish Hosseini
Equipment manager Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Sharif Sarwari
National Team manager Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Mustafa Mehrzad
Coordinator Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Sayed Ali Kazemi
Media Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Shams Amini
Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Firooz Mashoof
Technical Director Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Ahmad Jan Zadran

Coaching history

As of 28 March 2024
Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

Current squad

The following 23 players were named in the squad for the friendly matches against Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal and Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan between 16 and 19 November 2024. [40]

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
1 GK Ovays Azizi (1992-01-29) 29 January 1992 (age 32)440 Flag of Sweden.svg Ariana
1 GK Faisal Hamidi (1997-03-16) 16 March 1997 (age 27)100 Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Attack Energy
1 GK Keyvan Mottaghian (2002-11-16) 16 November 2002 (age 22)00 Flag of Cyprus.svg APOP Polis

2 DF Zohib Islam Amiri (1990-02-15) 15 February 1990 (age 34)696 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Blainville
2 DF Sharif Mukhammad (1990-03-21) 21 March 1990 (age 34)313 Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Abu Muslim
2 DF Mahboob Hanifi (1997-03-22) 22 March 1997 (age 27)120 Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Attack Energy
2 DF Habibulla Askar (1999-08-09) 9 August 1999 (age 25)50 Flag of North Macedonia.svg Voska Sport
2 DF Mohammad Naeem Rahimi (1994-04-04) 4 April 1994 (age 30)40 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kingston City
2 DF Siar Sadat (2003-08-21) 21 August 2003 (age 21)30 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Blainville
2 DF Yahyie Shirzai (2005-05-22) 22 May 2005 (age 19)00 Flag of Denmark.svg Ishøj

3 MF Zelfy Nazary (1995-01-01) 1 January 1995 (age 30)171 Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Abu Muslim
3 MF Taufee Skandari (1999-04-02) 2 April 1999 (age 25)110 Flag of Indonesia.svg PSIS Semarang
3 MF Maziar Kouhyar (1997-09-30) 30 September 1997 (age 27)100 Flag of England.svg Kidderminster Harriers
3 MF Mosawer Ahadi (2000-03-08) 8 March 2000 (age 24)90 Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Abu Muslim
3 MF Rahmat Akbari (2000-06-22) 22 June 2000 (age 24)71 Free agent
3 MF Jamshed Asekzai (1997-10-09) 9 October 1997 (age 27)60 Flag of Sweden.svg Lunds
3 MF Yama Sherzad (2001-01-01) 1 January 2001 (age 24)30 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Prishtina Bern
3 MF Hakim Niazi (2006-08-14) 14 August 2006 (age 18)10 Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Attack Energy
3 MF Said Aref (2003-08-04) 4 August 2003 (age 21)00 Flag of Russia.svg Zenit Penza

4 FW Balal Arezou (1988-12-28) 28 December 1988 (age 36)289 Flag of Norway.svg Grane Arendal
4 FW Omid Musawi (2001-01-01) 1 January 2001 (age 24)110 Flag of Malaysia.svg Selangor
4 FW Hossein Zamani (2002-11-23) 23 November 2002 (age 22)41 Flag of Italy.svg Gioiese
4 FW Moshtaq Ahmadi (1996-04-21) 21 April 1996 (age 28)20 Free agent

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.

Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClubLatest call-up
GK Golali Rahimi (1996-06-30) 30 June 1996 (age 28)00 Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Abu Muslim v. Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait , 11 June 2024
GK Faisal Saeed Khil (2005-02-19) 19 February 2005 (age 19)00 Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg Sarrafan v. Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait , 11 June 2024

DF Najim Haidary (1999-12-22) 22 December 1999 (age 25)120 Flag of the Netherlands.svg VV Capelle v. Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait , 11 June 2024
DF Amid Arezou (1996-02-17) 17 February 1996 (age 28)10 Flag of Norway.svg Vindbjart v. Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait , 11 June 2024

MF Omid Popalzay (1996-01-25) 25 January 1996 (age 28)426 Flag of Indonesia.svg PSPS Pekanbaru v. Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait , 11 June 2024
MF Mustafa Azadzoy (1992-07-24) 24 July 1992 (age 32)373 Flag of Germany.svg Atlas Delmenhorst v. Flag of India.svg  India , 26 March 2024
MF Edriss Hushmand (1999-05-01) 1 May 1999 (age 25)10 Flag of Sweden.svg Ariana v. Flag of India.svg  India , 26 March 2024

FW Jabar Sharza (1994-04-06) 6 April 1994 (age 30)174 Flag of Sweden.svg Ariana v. Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait , 11 June 2024
FW Fareed Sadat (1998-11-20) 20 November 1998 (age 26)90 Flag of Indonesia.svg Persikabo v. Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait , 11 June 2024
FW Sayeed Reza Hussaini (1988-01-01) 1 January 1988 (age 37)10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Para Hills Knights v. Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait , 11 June 2024
FW Sayed Fatemi (1999-01-08) 8 January 1999 (age 26)10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Preston Lions v. Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait , 11 June 2024
FW Amin Nabizada (2007-06-21) 21 June 2007 (age 17)00 Flag of England.svg Watford U18 v. Flag of India.svg  India , 21 March 2024WD
FW Ramien Safi (1999-10-17) 17 October 1999 (age 25)00 Flag of Germany.svg SV Rödinghausen v. Flag of India.svg  India , 21 March 2024WD

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

Records

As of 19 November 2024 [42]
Players in bold are still active with Afghanistan.

Most appearances

Zohib Islam Amiri is Afghanistan's most capped player with 70 appearances. Zohib Islam Amiri.jpg
Zohib Islam Amiri is Afghanistan's most capped player with 70 appearances.
RankPlayerCapsGoalsPeriod
1 Zohib Islam Amiri 7162005–present
2 Faysal Shayesteh 59102014–present
3 Ovays Azizi 4602015–present
4 Omid Popalzay 4262015–present
5 Abassin Alikhil 4102011–2022
6 Mustafa Hadid 3922008–2021
7 Djelaludin Sharityar 3812007–2015
8 Mustafa Azadzoy 3732013–present
9 Ahmad Hatifi 3442011–2016
10 Zubayr Amiri 3352011–2022
Sharif Mukhammad 3332015–present
Farshad Noor 3342017–present

Top goalscorers

Faysal Shayesteh is Afghanistan's top scorer with 10 goals. Faysal Shayesteh Running with the Ball - PHI vs AFG, September 12, 2023 (cropped).png
Faysal Shayesteh is Afghanistan's top scorer with 10 goals.
RankPlayerGoalsCapsRatioPeriod
1 Faysal Shayesteh 10590.172014–present
2 Balal Arezou 9290.312011–present
3 Khaibar Amani 7210.332015–2019
4 Sandjar Ahmadi 6220.272011–2015
Omid Popalzay 6420.142015–present
Zohib Islam Amiri 6710.082005–present
7 Hashmatullah Barakzai 5280.182007–2014
Zubayr Amiri 5330.152011–2022
9 Jabar Sharza 4170.242017–present
Amredin Sharifi 4290.142013–present
Noraollah Amiri 4310.132015–2021
Farshad Noor 4330.122017–present
Ahmad Hatifi 4340.122011–2016

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out; correct as of 11 June 2024, after the match against Kuwait.

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
YearHostRoundPldWDLGFGAPos.PldWDLGFGA
1930 to 1938 Not member of FIFANot member of FIFA
1950 to 2002 Did not enterDid not enter
2006 Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Did not qualify 1st round 2002013
2010 Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1st round 200215
2014 Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 1st round 201113
2018 Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 4th 8305824
2022 Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 4th 8134515
2026 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
4th 8323514
2030 Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
To be determinedTo be determined
2034 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Total0/203076172074

AFC Asian Cup

Year AFC Asian Cup record Qualification record
RoundPldWDLGFGAPos.PldWDLGFGA
Flag of Hong Kong 1876.svg 1956 WithdrewWithdrew
Flag of South Korea.svg 1960 Did not enterDid not enter
Flag of Israel.svg 1964 WithdrewWithdrew
State Flag of Iran (1964).svg 1968 Did not enterDid not enter
Flag of Thailand.svg 1972
State Flag of Iran (1964).svg 1976 Did not qualify 4th 6015318
Flag of Kuwait.svg 1980 3rd 4013411
Flag of Singapore.svg 1984 5th 4013120
Flag of Qatar.svg 1988 Did not enterDid not enter
Flag of Japan.svg 1992
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 1996
Flag of Lebanon.svg 2000
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 2004 Did not qualify 3rd 210125
Flag of Indonesia.svg Flag of Malaysia.svg Flag of Thailand.svg Flag of Vietnam.svg 2007 Did not enterDid not enter
Flag of Qatar.svg 2011
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2015 Did not qualify AFC Challenge Cup
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2019 3rd 144371534
Flag of Qatar.svg 2023 3rd 11146921
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 2027 To be determinedTo be determined
Totals0/17416102534109

Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks; correct as of 27 March 2018 after the match against Cambodia.

CAFA Championship

Year CAFA Nations Cup record
RoundPldWDLGFGA
Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg Flag of Uzbekistan.svg 2023 Group stage200219
Total1/1200219

SAFF Championship (2003–2015)

SAFF Championship record
YearRoundPositionPldWDLGFGA
Flag of Pakistan.svg 1993 Not a part of SAFF
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg 1995
Flag of Nepal.svg 1997
Flag of India.svg 1999
Flag of Bangladesh.svg 2003 Group stage8th300306
Flag of Pakistan.svg 2005 Group stage6th3102311
Flag of Maldives.svg Flag of Sri Lanka.svg 2008 Group stage7th302157
Flag of Bangladesh.svg 2009 Group stage7th300317
Flag of India.svg 2011 Runners-up2nd5311137
Flag of Nepal.svg 2013 Champions1st541091
Flag of India.svg 2015 Runners-up2nd5401173
2018 – onwardsNot a part of SAFF
Totals1 title7/1127124114842

Afghanistan were members of the South Asian Football Federation between 2005 and 2015. As a result, they did not enter the competition between 1993 and 1999 and have not entered it since 2015.

Summer Olympics

Summer Olympics record
YearRoundPldWDLGFGA
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg 1900 to Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg 1936 Did not enter
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 1948 Preliminary round100106
Flag of Finland.svg 1952 Did not enter
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1956 to Flag of Italy.svg 1960 Withdrew
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg 1964 to Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg 1988 Did not enter
Since 1992 See Afghanistan under-23 team
Total1/20100106

Asian Games

Asian Games record
YearRoundPldWDLGFGA
Flag of India.svg 1951 Fourth place200205
Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg 1954 Group stage2002412
Flag of Japan.svg 1958 to Flag of Thailand.svg 1998 Did not enter
Since 2002 See Afghanistan under-23 team
Totals2/134004417

AFC Challenge Cup (2006–2014)

Year AFC Challenge Cup recordQualification record
RoundPldWDLGFGAPos.PldWDLGFGA
Flag of Bangladesh.svg 2006 Group stage302135Qualified automatically
Flag of India.svg 2008 Group stage3003010 1st 211010
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg 2010 WithdrewWithdrew
Flag of Nepal.svg 2012 Did not qualify 3rd 530263
Flag of Maldives.svg 2014 Fourth place513144 1st 321031
Total3/51115571910622104

Honours

Regional

See also

Notes

    1. 1 2 Afghanistan will play their home matches at a neutral venue due to the ongoing Afghan conflict.
    2. From 1988 to 2003, Afghanistan didn't play any matches due to security concerns within the country.

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