Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) is one of five regional bodies that govern association football in Asia.[1] It governs association football, futsal, and beach football in Central Asia. Headquartered in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, CAFA consists of six full national association members: Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
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Abbreviation | CAFA |
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Formation | 9 January 2015 |
Type | Sports organization |
Headquarters | Dushanbe, Tajikistan |
Membership | 6 member associations |
President | ![]() |
Vice president | ![]() |
General secretary | ![]() |
Website | www |
CAFA consists of the national football associations of Central Asia, runs competitions between national and club teams, and controls the prize money, regulations, and media rights to those competitions. CAFA aims to develop and strengthen the game of football throughout the region by raising the standards and creating more opportunities for the Member Associations for further growth.
In June 2014, the association was in principle approved by the Asian Football Confederation and approved at the Extraordinary Congress in January 2015 during the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.[2][3] As a result, CAFA will be able to have representative member(s) on the AFC executive committee.
The formation of CAFA was spearheaded by the Iranian Football Federation following disputes with West Asian Football Federation members. It was reported that AFC President Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa gained politically from the creation of the new zone.[4]
Members of the six nations met with AFC president Sheikh Salman on 10 May 2014 to talk about the possibility of creating a new Asian football zone. The delegations were invited by the AFC president following an initiative and proposed by Afghanistan and Iran.[5] At the extraordinary AFC congress on 9 June 2014 in São Paulo, the plan of the new zone was ratified by the congress.[6][7] It was subsequently approved at the AFC Extraordinary Congress in January 2015. CAFA's main headquarters after its foundation is located in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
In June 2023, the inaugural edition of the CAFA Nations Cup was held in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.[8] In October 2023, CAFA and AIFF signed a memorandum of understanding which will facilitate the participation of Indian teams in the Central Asian tournaments.[9][10] In February 2025, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan submitted a joint bid to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup.[11]
Position | Name | Years active |
---|---|---|
President | Rustam Emomali | 2019–present |
Vice-president | Mohammad Yousef Kargar | 2023–present |
Second Vice-president | Arslan Aynazarov | 2019–present |
General Secretary | Ulugbek Karimov | 2019–present |
President | Years |
---|---|
Mirabror Usmanov | 2015–2018 |
Umid Ahmadjonov | 2018–2019 |
Rustam Emomali | 2019–2023 (Term 1), 2023–present (Term 2) |
Vice-president | Years |
---|---|
Rustam Emomali | 2015–2018 |
Khurshed Mirzo | 2018–2019 |
Dastanbek Konokbaev | 2019–2023 |
Mohammad Yousef Kargar | 2023–present |
General Secretary | Years |
---|---|
Avazbek Maksumov | 2015–2017 |
Sanjar Rizayev | 2018–2019 |
Ulugbek Karimov | 2019–2023 (Term 1), 2023–present (Term 2) |
General Secretary | Years |
---|---|
Ali Kafashian | 2015–2019 |
Mehdi Taj | 2019–present |
AFC Exco | Years |
---|---|
Mehri Zohra | 2015–2019 |
Ali Reza Aghazada | 2019–2023 |
Dastanbek Konokbaev | 2023–present |
AFC Member | Years |
---|---|
Hedayat Mombini | 2023–present |
CAFA consists of six member associations. All of them are members of the Asian Football Confederation.
Code | Association | National teams | Founded | FIFA affiliation |
AFC affiliation |
CAFA affiliation |
IOC member |
Former federation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AFG | Afghanistan | 1933 | 1948 | 1954 | 2015 | Yes | SAFF (2005–2014) | |
IRN | IR Iran | 1920 | 1948 | 1954 | 2015 | Yes | WAFF (2001–2014) | |
KGZ | Kyrgyz Republic | 1992 | 1994 | 1994 | 2015 | Yes | ||
TJK | Tajikistan | 1936 | 1994 | 1994 | 2015 | Yes | ||
TKM | Turkmenistan | 1992 | 1994 | 1994 | 2015 | Yes | ||
UZB | Uzbekistan | 1946 | 1994 | 1994 | 2015 | Yes |
Association | National Football Leagues | League Champion | National Football Cups | Cup Champion | Super Cups | Super Cup Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | Afghanistan Champions League | Attack Energy | – | – | – | – |
– | – | – | – | – | – | |
Iran | Persian Gulf Pro League | Persepolis | Hazfi Cup | Persepolis | Iranian Super Cup | Persepolis |
Kowsar Women Football league | Khatoon F.C | Women's Hazfi Cup | – | Women's Super Cup | – | |
Kyrgyzstan | Kyrgyzstan Top League | Dordoi | Kyrgyzstan Cup | Neftchi Kochkor-Ata | Kyrgyzstan Super Cup | Dordoi |
Kyrgyzstan Women's Championship | – | – | – | – | – | |
Tajikistan | Tajikistan Higher League | Istiklol | Tajikistan Cup | Khujand | Tajikistan Super Cup | Istiklol |
– | – | – | – | – | – | |
Turkmenistan | Turkmenistan Higher League | Altyn Asyr | Turkmenistan Cup | Şagadam | Turkmenistan Super Cup | Altyn Asyr |
– | – | – | – | – | – | |
Uzbekistan | Uzbekistan Super League | Pakhtakor | Uzbekistan Cup | Nasaf | Uzbekistan Super Cup | Pakhtakor |
Uzbek women's football championship | Sogdiana | Uzbek women's Cup | Bunyodkor Tashkent | Uzbek women's Super Cup | Bunyodkor Tashkent |
CAFA runs several competitions which cover men's, women's, youth and futsal.[12][13]
Source:[14]
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Competitions:[15]
As of 15 March 2025 (After 2025 CAFA U-17 Women's Championship).
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Iran (IRI) | 19 | 12 | 1 | 32 |
2 | Uzbekistan (UZB) | 13 | 16 | 6 | 35 |
3 | Tajikistan (TJK) | 3 | 2 | 13 | 18 |
4 | Afghanistan (AFG) | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
5 | Kyrgyzstan (KGZ) | 0 | 4 | 12 | 16 |
6 | Turkmenistan (TKM) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
7 | Oman (OMA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Totals (7 entries) | 37 | 37 | 37 | 111 |
FIFA World Cup record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | 1930 (13) |
1934 (16) |
1938 (15) |
1950 (13) |
1954 (16) |
1958 (16) |
1962 (16) |
1966 (16) |
1970 (16) |
1974 (16) |
1978 (16) |
1982 (24) |
1986 (24) |
1990 (24) |
1994 (24) |
1998 (32) |
2002 (32) |
2006 (32) |
2010 (32) |
2014 (32) |
2018 (32) |
2022 (32) |
2026 (48) |
2030 (48) |
2034 (48) |
Years | |
Iran | — | • | GS | × | × | • | • | GS | • | GS | • | GS | GS | GS | 6 |
Olympic Games (Men's tournament) record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | 1900 (3) |
1904 (3) |
1908 (6) |
1912 (11) |
1920 (14) |
1924 (22) |
1928 (17) |
1936 (16) |
1948 (18) |
1952 (25) |
1956 (11) |
1960 (16) |
1964 (14) |
1968 (16) |
1972 (16) |
1976 (13) |
1980 (16) |
1984 (16) |
1988 (16) |
1992 (16) |
1996 (16) |
2000 (16) |
2004 (16) |
2008 (16) |
2012 (16) |
2016 (16) |
2021 (16) |
2024 (16) |
Years | |
Iran | — | • | • | • | • | GS | • | GS | QF | w | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 4 | ||||||||
Uzbekistan | — | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | 1 |
AFC Asian Cup record | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | 1956 (4) |
1960 (4) |
1964 (4) |
1968 (5) |
1972 (6) |
1976 (6) |
1980 (10) |
1984 (10) |
1988 (10) |
1992 (8) |
1996 (12) |
2000 (12) |
2004 (16) |
2007 (16) |
2011 (16) |
2015 (16) |
2019 (24) |
2023 (24) |
2027 (24) |
Years | |
Iran | × | • | × | 1st | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 4th | 3rd | GS | 3rd | QF | 3rd | QF | QF | QF | SF | SF | Q | 16 | |
Kyrgyzstan | Part of Soviet Union | • | • | • | × | • | • | R16 | GS | Q | 3 | ||||||||||
Tajikistan | Part of Soviet Union | • | • | • | × | • | • | • | QF | 1 | |||||||||||
Turkmenistan | Part of Soviet Union | • | • | GS | × | • | • | GS | • | 2 | |||||||||||
Uzbekistan | Part of Soviet Union | GS | GS | QF | QF | 4th | QF | R16 | QF | Q | 9 |
Nation | 1951 (6) |
1954 (12) |
1958 (14) |
1962 (8) |
1966 (11) |
1970 (10) |
1974 (15) |
1978 (14) |
1982 (16) |
1986 (18) |
1990 (14) |
1994 (18) |
1998 (23) |
2002 (24) |
2006 (28) |
2010 (24) |
2014 (29) |
2018 (25) |
2022 (21) |
Years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | 4th | GS | GS | GS | 4 | |||||||||||||||
Iran | 2nd | GS | 2nd | QF | 1st | QF | QF | 1st | R16 | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 4th | GS | R16 | QF | 16 | |||
Kyrgyzstan | Part of Soviet Union | GS | GS | R16 | GS | R16 | 5 | |||||||||||||
Tajikistan | Part of Soviet Union | GS | GS | R16 | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Turkmenistan | Part of Soviet Union | QF | QF | R16 | R16 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
Uzbekistan | Part of Soviet Union | 1st | QF | R16 | QF | QF | R16 | QF | 3rd | 8 |
Teams | 2013 |
2016 |
2018 |
2020 |
2022 |
2024 |
2026 |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Iran | GS | QF | • | GS | GS | • | 4 | |
Tajikistan | • | • | • | • | GS | GS | 2 | |
Turkmenistan | • | • | • | • | QF | • | 1 | |
Uzbekistan | GS | GS | 1st | 4th | 2nd | 2nd | 6 |
FIFA U-20 World Cup record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | 1977 (16) |
1979 (16) |
1981 (16) |
1983 (16) |
1985 (16) |
1987 (16) |
1989 (16) |
1991 (16) |
1993 (16) |
1995 (16) |
1997 (24) |
1999 (24) |
2001 (24) |
2003 (24) |
2005 (24) |
2007 (24) |
2009 (24) |
2011 (24) |
2013 (24) |
2015 (24) |
2017 (24) |
2019 (24) |
2023 (24) |
Years |
Iran | GS | • | × | × | × | × | • | × | • | × | • | • | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | • | 3 |
Uzbekistan | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | • | GS | • | QF | QF | • | • | R16 | 5 |
FIFA U-17 World Cup record | ||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | 1985 (16) |
1987 (16) |
1989 (16) |
1991 (16) |
1993 (16) |
1995 (16) |
1997 (16) |
1999 (16) |
2001 (16) |
2003 (16) |
2005 (16) |
2007 (24) |
2009 (24) |
2011 (24) |
2013 (24) |
2015 (24) |
2017 (24) |
2019 (24) |
2023 (24) |
Years |
Iran | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | • | • | R16 | • | R16 | • | QF | • | R16 | 5 |
Tajikistan | • | • | • | • | • | • | R16 | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | 2 | |||||
Uzbekistan | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | QF | R16 | • | • | • | QF | 3 |
FIFA Futsal World Cup record | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | 1989 (16) |
1992 (16) |
1996 (16) |
2000 (16) |
2004 (16) |
2008 (20) |
2012 (24) |
2016 (24) |
2021 (24) |
2024 (24) |
Years |
Afghanistan | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | R16 | 1 |
Iran | • | 4th | GS | GS | GS | R16 | R16 | 3rd | QF | R16 | 9 |
Tajikistan | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | 1 | |
Uzbekistan | • | • | • | • | • | GS | R16 | GS | 3 |
Team | 1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2010 |
2012 |
2014 |
2016 |
2018 |
2022 |
2024 |
Years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | × | • | • | • | QF | 1 |
Iran | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 17 |
Kyrgyzstan | R1 | R1 | R1 | QF | QF | R1 | 4th | 4th | 4th | QF | QF | QF | R1 | 6th | R1 | • | QF | 16 |
Tajikistan | × | × | R1 | × | × | × | R2 | R1 | QF | R1 | R1 | R1 | R1 | R1 | R1 | QF | 4th | 12 |
Turkmenistan | × | × | × | × | × | × | R1 | R1 | R1 | R1 | R1 | R1 | • | • | • | R1 | × | 7 |
Uzbekistan | R1 | R1 | 2nd | QF | QF | 4th | 3rd | 2nd | 3rd | QF | 2nd | QF | 3rd | 2nd | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 17 |
Men's National TeamseditRankings are calculated by FIFA.
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Leading Men's team: ![]()
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Women's National Teamsedit
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Leading Women's team: ![]()
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By number of goalsedit
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By countryedit(only highest goalscorers from each country)
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