Football in Afghanistan
Encyclopedia
Football is the most popular sport in Afghanistan. Formed in 1922 and affiliated to FIFA
since 1948, the Afghanistan Football Federation
and the Afghanistan national football team
lay dormant for many years. The side did not play a competitive international match from 1984 until 2002, when they competed at the Asian Games in Busan
, Korea
. The results were 10-0 to Iran, 11-0 against Qatar and 11-0 to Lebanon. The nation recorded its first victory in almost 20 years in March 2003 when they beat Kyrgyzstan 2-1 in an Asian Cup qualifying match. Sayeed Tahir Shah and Farid Azami were the scorers on that day. Their results in the 8-nation South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup were also respectable – losing to Sri Lanka and Pakistan 1-0 and India 4-0.
Afghanistan took part in the 1948 Olympic tournament, playing just once in a 6-0 defeat to Luxembourg. They also appeared twice at the Asian Games
but otherwise have no major international track record. The Afghanistan national football team
occasionally played in Asian Cup qualifiers without much winning, except in early 2003 when they celebrated their first victory, a 2-1 win against Nepal.
1923, these four teams were Maktab Habibiyeh, Maktab Esteghlal, Tafrih Team and
Mohajer Team.
The first football club to be founded in Afghanistan was Mahmoudiyeh F.C.
which was founded in
1934. Three years later the team traveled to India and took part in 18 games of which won 8, lost 9 and tied 1.
The second football club to be formed in the country was Ariana Kabul F.C.
which was established in
1941. This team traveled to Tehran
upon invitation from Iran
, played 3 games in which 1 was won and losing 2. In the same year the Afghanistan national football team
(Ariana Kabul F.C.) was formed when they played the Iran national football team
in a 0-0 draw for first international game.
In 2007, the Afghanistan women's national football team
was created. It is directed by the Afghan Sports Federation
or the Afghanistan Olympic Committee.
, which is the country's major league, comprising twelve teams from Kabul
.
Then there is a Afghan National League
to promote football in the 34 Provinces of Afghanistan
.
There is also a league for women: Women Kabul League, consist of 17 teams from Kabul.
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
since 1948, the Afghanistan Football Federation
Afghanistan Football Federation
The Afghanistan Football Federation is the governing body of football in Afghanistan, controlling the Afghanistan national football team. It was founded in 1922, and has been a member of FIFA since 1948 and the Asian Football Confederation since 1954....
and the Afghanistan national football team
Afghanistan national football team
The Afghanistan national football team is the national team of Afghanistan and is controlled by the Afghanistan Football Federation. The national team was founded in 1922 that joined FIFA in 1948 and the AFC in 1954...
lay dormant for many years. The side did not play a competitive international match from 1984 until 2002, when they competed at the Asian Games in Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. The results were 10-0 to Iran, 11-0 against Qatar and 11-0 to Lebanon. The nation recorded its first victory in almost 20 years in March 2003 when they beat Kyrgyzstan 2-1 in an Asian Cup qualifying match. Sayeed Tahir Shah and Farid Azami were the scorers on that day. Their results in the 8-nation South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup were also respectable – losing to Sri Lanka and Pakistan 1-0 and India 4-0.
Afghanistan took part in the 1948 Olympic tournament, playing just once in a 6-0 defeat to Luxembourg. They also appeared twice at the Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
but otherwise have no major international track record. The Afghanistan national football team
Afghanistan national football team
The Afghanistan national football team is the national team of Afghanistan and is controlled by the Afghanistan Football Federation. The national team was founded in 1922 that joined FIFA in 1948 and the AFC in 1954...
occasionally played in Asian Cup qualifiers without much winning, except in early 2003 when they celebrated their first victory, a 2-1 win against Nepal.
History of football in Afghanistan
The first football games to be played in Afghanistan were played between 4 school teams back in1923, these four teams were Maktab Habibiyeh, Maktab Esteghlal, Tafrih Team and
Mohajer Team.
The first football club to be founded in Afghanistan was Mahmoudiyeh F.C.
Mahmoudiyeh F.C.
Mahmoudiyeh F.C. is the first football team that was established in Afghanistan. The club was founded in 1934. In 1937, the team travelled to British India where it played 18 matches against Indian teams of which won 8, lost 9 and drew 1....
which was founded in
1934. Three years later the team traveled to India and took part in 18 games of which won 8, lost 9 and tied 1.
The second football club to be formed in the country was Ariana Kabul F.C.
Ariana Kabul F.C.
Ariana Kabul F.C. is the second oldest football team in Afghanistan. The club was founded in 1941.The first ever Afghanistan national football team squad was in fact the whole squad of Ariana FC. This team took part in the Afghanistan Independence Football Tournament which was hosted in Kabul in...
which was established in
1941. This team traveled to Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
upon invitation from Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, played 3 games in which 1 was won and losing 2. In the same year the Afghanistan national football team
Afghanistan national football team
The Afghanistan national football team is the national team of Afghanistan and is controlled by the Afghanistan Football Federation. The national team was founded in 1922 that joined FIFA in 1948 and the AFC in 1954...
(Ariana Kabul F.C.) was formed when they played the Iran national football team
Iran national football team
The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...
in a 0-0 draw for first international game.
In 2007, the Afghanistan women's national football team
Afghanistan Women's National Football Team
Afghanistan Woman's National Football Team was created in 2007 directed by the Afghanistan Olympic Committee. The National side was established from the selected school girls in Kabul. That year, the team played for the first time against ISAF Women Football Team. The result was 5-0 in favor of...
was created. It is directed by the Afghan Sports Federation
Afghan Sports Federation
The Afghan Sports Federation is a non-profit organization based in Fairfax, Virginia to help Afghan-Americans compete in various sports....
or the Afghanistan Olympic Committee.
Football structure
There are currently two leagues for Men: Kabul Premier LeagueKabul Premier League
The Kabul Premier League was created in 2006 in order to improve the Afghan national team. In the first division there are 12 teams, which play each other once a season inside Ghazi Stadium in Kabul. Games must be held on different days due to lack of stadiums....
, which is the country's major league, comprising twelve teams from Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
.
Then there is a Afghan National League
Afghan National League
Afghan National League is the national football league of Afghanistan. As of 2007, the league is divided into 7 zones for 32 teams from 32 Provinces of Afghanistan ....
to promote football in the 34 Provinces of Afghanistan
Provinces of Afghanistan
The provinces of Afghanistan are the primary administrative divisions of Afghanistan. As of 2004, there are thirty-four provinces in the country. Each province is further divided into smaller districts....
.
There is also a league for women: Women Kabul League, consist of 17 teams from Kabul.
Stadiums
There following is an incomplete list of football stadiums in different cities of Afghanistan:- Ghazi StadiumNational Stadium (Afghanistan)Ghazi Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Kabul, Afghanistan. It was built during the reign of King Amanullah Khan in 1923, who was regarded as Ghazi for winning the war with British and gaining independence of his nation...
in KabulKabulKabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan... - Kandahar Stadium in KandaharKandaharKandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24037728@N08/2408005625/in/photostream - Herat Stadium in HeratHeratHerāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
- Balkh Stadium in Mazar-i-Sharif
- Ghazni Stadium in GhazniGhazniFor the Province of Ghazni see Ghazni ProvinceGhazni is a city in central-east Afghanistan with a population of about 141,000 people...
- Kunduz Stadium in KunduzKunduzKunduz also known as Kundûz, Qonduz, Qondûz, Konduz, Kondûz, Kondoz, or Qhunduz is a city in northern Afghanistan, the capital of Kunduz Province. It is linked by highways with Mazari Sharif to the west, Kabul to the south and Tajikistan's border to the north...
- Lashkar Gah Stadium in Lashkar Gah