Football is the most popular sport in Turkmenistan, a country that gained independence in 1991. The national association regularly takes part in competitions organised by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation at senior and youth level. Valeri Nepomniachi is probably the most famous name in Turkmen football. He was the coach who led Cameroon

Cameroon national football team

The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...

 to the 1990 FIFA World Cup

1990 FIFA World Cup

The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...

 in Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

. The Africans surprised many with their 1-0 win over defending champions Argentina

Argentina national football team

The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...

 in the opening match and finally bowed out in the quarter-finals.
There are 40 clubs, 820 players, 30 referees in the country. The major stadiums are: Köpetdag Stadium

Köpetdag Stadium

Köpetdag Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home for Köpetdag Aşgabat and Talyp Sporty Aşgabat. The stadium holds 26,000 people and was built in 1997....

, Nabitchi (Nebitdag, 15000 seats),The Builder(Ashgabat, 11000 seats).

Soviet Period

Football in Turkmenistan started to develop in the 1920's, however the sport became more organised when in 1937 the first championship of the Turkmen SSR

Turkmen SSR

The Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Turkmen SSR for short, was one of republics of the Soviet Union in Central Asia. It was initially established on 7 August 1921 as the Turkmen Oblast of the Turkestan ASSR. On 13 May 1925 it was transformed into Turkmen SSR and became a...

 was held. From 1937 until 1991, the most successful clubs were Neftyanik Kvasnovodsk and Pogranichnik Ashkhabad having won each six Turkmen SSR

Turkmen SSR

The Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Turkmen SSR for short, was one of republics of the Soviet Union in Central Asia. It was initially established on 7 August 1921 as the Turkmen Oblast of the Turkestan ASSR. On 13 May 1925 it was transformed into Turkmen SSR and became a...

 Championship Titles.

Even though no team from Turkmen SSR

Turkmen SSR

The Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Turkmen SSR for short, was one of republics of the Soviet Union in Central Asia. It was initially established on 7 August 1921 as the Turkmen Oblast of the Turkestan ASSR. On 13 May 1925 it was transformed into Turkmen SSR and became a...

 ever played in the Soviet Top League

Soviet Top League

The Soviet Top League since 1970 was officially known as the Supreme League serving as the top division of Soviet Union football since 1936.It was one of the best football leagues in Europe ranking second among the UEFA members in 1988-1989 seasons...

, several footballers did, of whom most notably are Kurban Berdyev

Kurban Berdyev

Kurban Berdyev , ; born 25 August 1952) is a Turkmen - Russian football coach and a former Soviet footballer. He is currently a head coach and a vice-president of Rubin.He is the most prominent football player and coach of Turkmen ethnicity....

, Sergey Agashkov

Sergey Agashkov

Sergey Nikolaevich Agashkov is retired Turkmen footballer. He had spells at SKA Rostov-on-Don, Torpedo Moscow, Beitar Tel Aviv, POSCO Atoms and Ankaragücü....

, Ravshan Muhadov, Dmitri Khomukha

Dmitri Khomukha

Dmitri Ivanovich Khomukha is a retired Turkmenistani footballer. He is Ukrainian by ethnicity and also has a Russian citizenship.-Achievements:* Russian Premier League runner-up: 1998.* Russian Premier League bronze: 1999....

, Charyar Mukhadov

Charyar Mukhadov

Charyar Mukhadov is a former Turkmen footballer.-Club career:Mukhadov began his career playing for Pamir Dushanbe in the Soviet Top League and later played for Lada Togliatti in the Russian Premier League...

 and Vitaliy Kafanov

Vitaliy Kafanov

Vitaliy Kafanov is a retired Kazakhstani-Turkmenistani football player.He began his career with Kolkozchi Ashkhabad, before spending one season with Uralmash Yekaterinburg in the Soviet First League and finishing his career with FC Kairat....

.

Since Independence

Following independence from the Soviet Union

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

, Football Association of Turkmenistan

Football Association of Turkmenistan

The Football Federation of Turkmenistan is the governing body of football in Turkmenistan.-External links:* at the FIFA website.* at AFC site...

 was established in 1992, and has been a member of FIFA

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...

 and AFC

Asian Football Confederation

The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...

 since 1994. The Ýokary Liga and Turkmenistan Cup

Turkmenistan Cup

The Turkmenistan Cup is an annually held football tournament for Turkmen football clubs and is the second most important national title in Turkmen football after the Ýokary Liga title.The cup has been contested since 1993....

 were reestablished in 1992. Since 1995, Turkmenistan has hosted the annual international football tournament known as Turkmen President’s Cup

Turkmen President’s Cup

Turkmenistan President’s Cup is international football tournament in Turkmenistan, it was created in 1994. The tournament is dedicated to Day of State Flag of Turkmenistan. The tournament prize money is US 35,000...

. Turkmenistani clubs also participate in the annual CIS Cup.

Turkmenistan national football team

Turkmenistan national football team

The Turkmenistan national football team is the national team of Turkmenistan and is controlled by the Football Federation of Turkmenistan.-History:After the country gained independence, they played their first match against Kazakhstan on June 1, 1992...

 success came in 1993, when it came runners up in ECO Cup losing 2-1 to the host nation Iran

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...

. More success followed when the team reached the quarter-finals stage of 1994 Asian Games

Football at the 1994 Asian Games

Football at the 1994 Asian Games was held in Hiroshima, Japan from October 1 to October 17, 1994.The women's tournament doubled the Asian qualification of 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup, where China PR and Japan qualified.-Medal winners:-Medal table:...

. Ten years later, the national team qualified for her only appearance in the continental tournament 2004 AFC Asian Cup

2004 AFC Asian Cup

The 2004 AFC Asian Cup football competition is the thirteenth staging of AFC Asian Cup. It was held from July 17 to August 7, 2004 in China. The defending champions Japan defeated China in the final in Beijing....

, then came close again for qualifying when reached the final of 2010 AFC Challenge Cup

2010 AFC Challenge Cup

The 2010 AFC Challenge Cup was the third edition of the tournament which was held from 16–27 February 2010 in Sri Lanka. India, the defending champions, fielded their under-23 team for this tournament in preparation for the 2010 Asian Games later that year...

 losing to North Korea eventual champions in penalty shootouts.

Most well known Turkmenistani football personalities are Kurban Berdyev

Kurban Berdyev

Kurban Berdyev , ; born 25 August 1952) is a Turkmen - Russian football coach and a former Soviet footballer. He is currently a head coach and a vice-president of Rubin.He is the most prominent football player and coach of Turkmen ethnicity....

(Head Coach of Rubin Kazan, Champions of Russian Premier League

Russian Premier League

The Russian Premier League , currently called SOGAZ Russian Football Championship due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of Russian football. There are 16 teams in the competition...

 in 2008 and 2009) and Ashgabat-born Rolan Gusev

Rolan Gusev

Rolan Gusev is a former Russian international association football player. He is a right midfielder and is known for his dribbling and crossing....

(Russian national team footballer 2000-2005).