Central Asian Football Association

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Central Asian Football Association
AbbreviationCAFA
Formation9 January 2015; 9 years ago (2015-01-09)
TypeSports organization
HeadquartersDushanbe, Tajikistan
Membership
6 member associations
President
Tajikistan Rustam Emomali
Vice president
Afghanistan Mohammad Yousef Kargar
General secretary
Tajikistan Ulugbek Karimov
Websitewww.the-cafa.com

Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) is one of five regional bodies of governance in 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 i.e Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan with India[2] & Oman[3] as invitational members.[4]

CAFA consists of the national football associations of Central Asia, and runs competitions between national teams, and also controls the prize money, regulations, as well as 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.[5][6] 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.[7]

History[edit]

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.[8] At the extraordinary AFC congress on 9 June 2014 in São Paulo, the plan of the new zone was ratified by the congress.[9][10] 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 October 2023, CAFA and AIFF signed a memorandum of understanding which will facilitate the participation of Indian teams in the Central Asian tournaments.[11][12]

Executive committee[edit]

Position Name Years active
President Tajikistan Rustam Emomali 2019–present
Vice-president Afghanistan Mohammad Yousef Kargar 2023–present
Second Vice-president Turkmenistan Arslan Aynazarov 2019–present
General Secretary Tajikistan Ulugbek Karimov 2019–present

Presidents[edit]

President Years
Uzbekistan Mirabror Usmanov 2015–2018
Uzbekistan Umid Ahmadjonov 2018–2019
Tajikistan Rustam Emomali 2019–2023 (Term 1),
2023–present (Term 2)

Vice-presidents[edit]

Vice-president Years
Tajikistan Rustam Emomali 2015–2018
Tajikistan Khurshed Mirzo 2018–2019
Kyrgyzstan Dastanbek Konokbaev 2019–2023
Afghanistan Mohammad Yousef Kargar 2023–present

General Secretaries[edit]

General Secretary Years
Uzbekistan Avazbek Maksumov 2015–2017
Uzbekistan Sanjar Rizayev 2018–2019
Tajikistan Ulugbek Karimov 2019–2023 (Term 1),
2023–present (Term 2)

AFC Vice-Presidents for Central Zone[edit]

General Secretary Years
Iran Ali Kafashian 2015–2016
Iran Mehdi Taj 2016–present

AFC Executive Committee Members for Central Zone[edit]

AFC Exco Years
Afghanistan Mehri Zohra 2015–2019
Afghanistan Ali Reza Aghazada 2019–2023
Kyrgyzstan Dastanbek Konokbaev 2023–present

Member[edit]

AFC Member Years
Iran Hedayat Mombini 2023–present

Member associations[edit]

CAFA consists of six member associations. All of them are members of the Asian Football Confederation.

Code Association National Football teams National Futsal teams National Beach
Soccer teams
Founded FIFA
affiliation
AFC
affiliation
CAFA
affiliation
IOC
member
Former federation
AFG Afghanistan Afghanistan Men's (U21·U19·U17) 1933 1948 1954 2015 Yes SAFF (2005–2014)
IRN Iran Iran Men's (U21·U19·U17) Women's (U19·U17) Men's (U-20) Women's Men's 1920 1948 1954 2015 Yes WAFF (2001–2014)
KGZ Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Men's (U21·U17) Women's Men's 1946 1994 1994 2015 Yes
TJK Tajikistan Tajikistan Men's (U21·U17) Women's Men's 1936 1994 1994 2015 Yes
TKM Turkmenistan Turkmenistan Men's (U21·U17) Women's Men's 1992 1994 1994 2015 Yes
UZB Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Men's (U21·U19·U17) Women's (U19) Men's Women's Men's 1946 1994 1994 2015 Yes
Association National Football Leagues League Champion National Football Cups Cup Champion Super Cups Super Cup Champion
 Afghanistan Afghan Premier League Shaheen Asmayee
 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

Competitions[edit]

Current title holders[edit]

CAFA runs several competitions which cover men's, women's, youth and futsal.[13][14]

Competition Year Champions Title Runners-up Next edition[14]
Men's National teams
CAFA Nations Cup 2023  Iran 1st  Uzbekistan TBD
CAFA U-20 Championship 2023  Uzbekistan 1st  Iran TBD
CAFA U-19 Championship 2022  Iran 2nd  Uzbekistan TBD
CAFA U-17 Championship 2023  Tajikistan 1st  Uzbekistan TBD
CAFA U-16 Championship 2022  Iran 1st  Uzbekistan TBD
CAFA U-15 Championship 2021  Iran 2nd  Tajikistan TBD
CAFA U-14 Championship 2022  Tajikistan 1st  Iran TBD
CAFA Futsal Cup 2023  Iran 1st  Afghanistan TBD
CAFA U-19 Futsal Championship 2022  Iran 1st  Afghanistan TBD
Women's National teams
CAFA Women's Championship 2022  Uzbekistan 2nd  Iran TBD
CAFA U-23 Women's Championship 2019  Uzbekistan 1st  Iran TBD
CAFA U-20 Women's Championship 2021  Uzbekistan 1st  Iran TBD
CAFA U-19 Women's Championship 2016  Uzbekistan 1st  Iran TBD
CAFA U-18 Women's Championship 2022  Iran 1st  Uzbekistan TBD
CAFA U-17 Women's Championship 2023  Uzbekistan 2nd  Iran TBD
CAFA U-15 Girls Championship 2022  Uzbekistan 2nd  Iran TBD
CAFA U-14 Girls Championship 2023  Iran 1st  Kyrgyzstan TBD
CAFA Women's Futsal Championship 2024  Iran 3th  Uzbekistan TBD
CAFA U-19 Women's Futsal Championship 2020  Iran 1st  Uzbekistan TBD

Events by Year[edit]

Source:[15]

# Year Events
1 2016 2
2 2017 2
3 2018 3
4 2019 4
5 2020 1
6 2021 3
7 2022 8
8 2023 7

Events timeline[edit]

Number Event Host City Host Country Champions Teams Dates Ref
1 2016 CAFA U-19 Boys Championship Tashkent  Uzbekistan  Uzbekistan 6 7-16 August [16]
2 2016 CAFA U-19 Women's Championship Tashkent  Uzbekistan  Uzbekistan 4 14-16 October [17]
3 2017 CAFA U-15 Boys Championship Dushanbe  Tajikistan  Afghanistan 5 2-9 July [18]
4 2017 CAFA U-15 Girls Championship Hisor  Tajikistan  Uzbekistan 4 26-28 August [19]
5 2018 CAFA U-16 Boys Championship Tashkent  Uzbekistan  Uzbekistan 4 3-13 July [20]
6 2018 CAFA U-15 Boys Championship Tashkent  Uzbekistan  Iran 6 20-31 July [21]
7 2018 CAFA Women's Championship Tashkent  Uzbekistan  Uzbekistan 5 23 Nov – 1 Dec [22]
8 2019 CAFA U-16 Boys Championship Dushanbe - Hisor  Tajikistan  Tajikistan 6 26 July - 1 August [23]
9 2019 CAFA U-19 Championship Dushanbe  Tajikistan  Iran 5 9-15 August [24]
10 2019 CAFA U-15 Girls Championship Tashkent  Uzbekistan  Iran 4 13-16 September [25]
11 2019 CAFA U-23 Women's Championship Dushanbe - Hisor  Tajikistan  Uzbekistan 6 22-28 November [26]
12 2020 CAFA U-19 Women's Futsal Championship Dushanbe  Tajikistan  Iran 6 24-29 January [27]
13 2021 CAFA U-20 Women's Championship Dushanbe  Tajikistan  Uzbekistan 5 11–17 June [28]
14 2021 CAFA U-17 Women's Championship Dushanbe  Tajikistan  Uzbekistan 4 3-7 July [29]
15 2021 CAFA U-15 Championship Dushanbe  Tajikistan  Iran 5 17–24 November [30]
16 2022 CAFA Women's Futsal Championship Dushanbe  Tajikistan  Iran 4 21-28 January [31]
17 2022 CAFA U-19 Futsal Championship Bishkek  Kyrgyzstan  Iran 5 12-19 February [32]
18 2022 CAFA U-18 Women's Championship Dushanbe  Tajikistan  Iran 4 11-15 March [33]
19 2022 CAFA U-16 Championship Dushanbe  Tajikistan  Iran 5 13-20 May [34]
20 2022 CAFA Women's Championship Dushanbe  Tajikistan  Uzbekistan 5 6-21 July [35]
21 2022 CAFA U-19 Championship Dushanbe  Tajikistan  Iran 5 3-13 August [36]
22 2022 CAFA U-15 Girls Championship Hisor  Tajikistan  Uzbekistan 3 21-26 October [37]
23 2022 CAFA U-14 Championship Hisor  Tajikistan  Tajikistan 5 11–18 November [38]
24 2023 CAFA Women's Futsal Championship Tashkent  Uzbekistan  Iran 4 27–30 January [39]
25 2023 CAFA U-17 Women's Championship Hisor  Tajikistan  Uzbekistan 4 10–17 March [40]
26 2023 CAFA U-20 Championship Dushanbe - Tursunzoda  Tajikistan  Uzbekistan 5 21–28 May [41]
27 2023 CAFA Championship Bishkek - Tashkent  Kyrgyzstan -  Uzbekistan  Iran 7 10–20 June [42]
28 2023 CAFA Futsal Cup Dushanbe  Tajikistan  Iran 6 23–30 July [43]
29 2023 CAFA U-17 Championship Hisor  Tajikistan  Tajikistan 5 18–28 August [44]
30 2023 CAFA U-14 Girls Championship Dushanbe  Tajikistan  Iran 4 15–19 October [45][46]
31 2024 CAFA Women's Futsal Championship Dushanbe  Tajikistan  Iran 5 2–12 February
  •     Men
  •     Women

Medals[edit]

As of 20 October 2023 (After 2024 CAFA Women's Futsal Championship).

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Iran (IRI)1511127
2 Uzbekistan (UZB)1212529
3 Tajikistan (TJK)321318
4 Afghanistan (AFG)1315
5 Kyrgyzstan (KGZ)03811
6 Turkmenistan (TKM)0022
7 Oman (OMA)0011
Totals (7 entries)31313193

Rankings[edit]

Futsal[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "اتحادیه فوتبال آسیای مرکزی ایجاد شد" (in Persian). BBC. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  2. ^ "AIFF-CAFA MoU paves the way for National Teams' participation in Central Asian tournaments". www.the-aiff.com. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  3. ^ "Oman draws with Tajikistan at Cafa Nations Cup". omanobserver. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  4. ^ "Central Asian Football Association and All India Football Federation paving the way for the start of Cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. — CENTRAL ASIAN FOOTBAL ASSOCIATION [CAFA]" (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  5. ^ "'Central Zone' gets thumbs up from Tajikistan". The AFC. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  6. ^ "AFC adds a fifth zone as Extraordinary Congress approves amendments to AFC Statutes". The AFC. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  7. ^ Warshaw, Andrew (10 June 2014). "Shaikh Salman flexes his political muscle to brush aside Prince Ali". InsideWorldFootball.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  8. ^ "Central Asians meet Sheikh Salman to create CAFA". aff.org.af. 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  9. ^ "Sheikh Salman Wins Bitter Battle to End Prince Ali's FIFA Vice-Presidency" (10 June 2014). worldfootballinsider.com. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  10. ^ "AFC president to resume FIFA Vice Presidency". goal.com. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  11. ^ "AIFF-CAFA MoU paves the way for National Teams' participation in Central Asian tournaments". aiff.com. 30 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Central Asian Football Association and All India Football Federation paving the way for the start of Cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding". the-cafa.com. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  13. ^ "About CAFA". October 6, 2014.
  14. ^ a b "Competitions". the-cafa.com. Central Asian Football Association (CAFA). Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Competitions — Central Asian Football Association [Cafa]".
  16. ^ "2016 Cafa u19 championship".
  17. ^ "goalzz.com: Live sports scores, news and more". www.goalzz.com.
  18. ^ "Afghanistan U-15s Win CAFA Championship Title".
  19. ^ "goalzz.com: Live sports scores, news and more". www.goalzz.com.
  20. ^ "Uzbekistan clinch CAFA U-16 Championship — CENTRAL ASIAN FOOTBAL ASSOCIATION [CAFA]".
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  27. ^ "CAFA U-19 Girls Futsal Championship 2020 — CENTRAL ASIAN FOOTBAL ASSOCIATION [CAFA]".
  28. ^ "CAFA U20 Women's Championship 2021 — CENTRAL ASIAN FOOTBAL ASSOCIATION [CAFA]".
  29. ^ "CAFA U17 Women's Championship 2021 — CENTRAL ASIAN FOOTBAL ASSOCIATION [CAFA]".
  30. ^ "CAFA U15 Championship 2021 — CENTRAL ASIAN FOOTBAL ASSOCIATION [CAFA]".
  31. ^ "Cafa Women's Futsal Championship 2022 — Central Asian Footbal Association [Cafa]".
  32. ^ "CAFA U19 Futsal Championship 2022 — CENTRAL ASIAN FOOTBAL ASSOCIATION [CAFA]".
  33. ^ "CAFA U18 Women's Championship 2022 — CENTRAL ASIAN FOOTBAL ASSOCIATION [CAFA]".
  34. ^ "CAFA U16 Championship 2022 — CENTRAL ASIAN FOOTBAL ASSOCIATION [CAFA]".
  35. ^ "Cafa Women's Championship 2022 — Central Asian Footbal Association [Cafa]".
  36. ^ "CAFA U19 Championship 2022 — CENTRAL ASIAN FOOTBAL ASSOCIATION [CAFA]".
  37. ^ "CAFA U15 Women's Championship 2022 — CENTRAL ASIAN FOOTBAL ASSOCIATION [CAFA]".
  38. ^ "СAFA U14 Championship 2022 — CENTRAL ASIAN FOOTBAL ASSOCIATION [CAFA]".
  39. ^ "Cafa Women's Futsal Championship 2023 — Central Asian Footbal Association [Cafa]".
  40. ^ "Cafa U17 Women's Championship 2023 — Central Asian Footbal Association [Cafa]".
  41. ^ "Cafa U20 Championship 2023 — Central Asian Footbal Association [Cafa]".
  42. ^ "CAFA Nations CUP 2023 — CENTRAL ASIAN FOOTBAL ASSOCIATION [CAFA]".
  43. ^ "FutsalPlanet News".
  44. ^ "Cafa U17 Championship 2023 — Central Asian Footbal Association [Cafa]".
  45. ^ "Exciting CAFA U14 Girls' Championship Caps off CAFA Competitions Season 2023 — CENTRAL ASIAN FOOTBAL ASSOCIATION [CAFA]".
  46. ^ "Cafa U14 Girls' Championship 2023 — Central Asian Footbal Association [Cafa]".
  47. ^ https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men?dateId=id13407%7Cdate=16 September 2021
  48. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  49. ^ "Women's Ranking". Fifa.com.
  50. ^ "The Futsal World Ranking". futsalworldranking.com. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  51. ^ "The Women's Futsal World Ranking". theroonba.com. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

External links[edit]