Turkmenistan national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Turkmenistan

Nickname(s)	Emerald Greens Karakum Warriors
Association	Türkmenistanyň Futbol Federasiýasy (TFF)
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation	CAFA (Central Asia)
Head coach	Rovshen Meredov
Captain	Altymyrat Annadurdyýew
Most caps	Arslanmyrat Amanow (63)
Top scorer	Wladimir Baýramow (16)
Home stadium	Ashgabat Stadium
FIFA code	TKM
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	136 9 (7 February 2019)
Highest	86 (April 2004)
Lowest	174 (September 2007)
Elo ranking
Current	154 6 (3 March 2019)
Highest	83 (31 March 2004)
Lowest	154 (27 March 2018)
First international
Kazakhstan 1–0 Turkmenistan  (Almaty, Kazakhstan; 1 June 1992)
Biggest win
Turkmenistan 11–0 Afghanistan  (Ashgabat, Turkmenistan; 19 November 2003)
Biggest defeat
Tajikistan 5–0 Turkmenistan  (Dushanbe, Tajikistan; 22 June 1997)  Kuwait 6–1 Turkmenistan  (Kuwait City, Kuwait; 10 February 2000)  Qatar 5–0 Turkmenistan  (Doha, Qatar; 31 May 2004)  Bahrain 5–0 Turkmenistan  (Riffa, Bahrain; 3 August 2005)  South Korea 5–0 Turkmenistan  (Goyang, South Korea; 5 June 2021)  Iran 5–0 Turkmenistan  (Tehran, Iran; 21 March 2024)
Asian Cup
Appearances	2 (first in 2004)
Best result	Group stage (2004, 2019)
CAFA Nations Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2023)
Best result	Group stage (2023)
AFC Challenge Cup
Appearances	4 (first in 2008)
Best result	Runners-up (2010, 2012)

The Turkmenistan national football team (Turkmen: Türkmenistanyň milli futbol ýygyndysy) plays for Turkmenistan in international men's football games. The team is managed by the Football Federation of Turkmenistan. Their main home stadium is the Kopetdag Stadium. The team is part of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Team History and Key Moments

After Turkmenistan became an independent country, its football team played its first game. This was against Kazakhstan on June 1, 1992. They also played against another Central Asian country, Uzbekistan, on June 28 of the same year.

Early 2000s: Asian Cup Debut

Turkmenistan playing against North Korea in June 2008.

Turkmenistan made it to the 2004 AFC Asian Cup. They won their qualification group to get there. In late 2003, they had a huge win against Afghanistan, scoring 11–0. Many players scored multiple goals in that match.

In December 2003, the team reached the top 100 in the FIFA rankings for the first time. They were ranked 99th. At the 2004 AFC Asian Cup in China, Turkmenistan was in a tough group. They played against Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. They were knocked out after the group stage.

2010s: Challenge Cup Success

In February 2010, Ýazguly Hojageldyýew became the team's coach. Under his leadership, Turkmenistan reached the final of the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup in Sri Lanka. They lost to North Korea in a penalty shootout.

In March 2011, Turkmenistan qualified for the final round of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup. They beat Pakistan and Taiwan. They also had a draw with India. Later in 2011, they played against Indonesia for a spot in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. They drew the first game 1–1 but lost the second, so they did not qualify.

In March 2012, the team went to Nepal for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup final tournament. They won against Nepal and Maldives. They drew with Palestine. In the semifinals, Turkmenistan beat the Philippines 2–1. However, they lost the final match to North Korea again, with a score of 1–2.

In October 2012, Turkmenistan played in the 2012 VFF Cup in Vietnam. They finished as runners-up, winning against Vietnam and Laos. They lost the final to a South Korean university team.

In March 2013, Turkmenistan had a big 7–0 win against Cambodia in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers. They also got a 3–0 win by default when Brunei did not show up for their match. Even though they lost to the Philippines, they still qualified for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup finals.

In January 2014, Rahym Kurbanmämmedow took over as coach. The team played in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup but was eliminated in the group stage. This meant they could not qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. After this, the coaching staff was changed.

2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Iran in Tehran.

In 2015, Amangylyç Koçumow became the new head coach. The team started their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification badly, losing to Guam national football team 0–1. On June 16, 2015, Turkmenistan played a match outside Ashgabat for the first time. They drew 1–1 with Iran in Dashoguz. They then lost to Oman. In home games in October 2016, Turkmenistan beat India and Guam. They also played a friendly match with the UAE, losing 1–5. In November 2016, Turkmenistan surprisingly beat Oman 2–1 at home. They finished third in their group, which was not enough for the World Cup but gave them a chance to qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

Return to the AFC Asian Cup

Turkmenistan at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

Turkmenistan qualified for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup for the second time. They finished second in their qualification group behind Bahrain. In the tournament, Turkmenistan was in a group with Japan, Uzbekistan, and Oman.

In their first match, they played well against Japan and even led at halftime. But they eventually lost 2–3. The next game against Uzbekistan was tough, and they lost 0–4. Turkmenistan then lost to Oman 1–3, which meant they were out of the tournament without any points. Coach Ýazguly Hojageldyýew left the team after this.

In March 2019, the Football Federation of Turkmenistan hired Croatian coach Ante Miše. His first game was a 0–0 friendly draw with Uganda.

In the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification, Turkmenistan was in a group with Malaysia, Bahrain, and Bangladesh. They lost to Malaysia and Bahrain. Even though they won against Bangladesh, they did not qualify for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. In 2023, Turkmenistan also played in the first 2023 CAFA Nations Cup.

In November 2023, they lost to Uzbekistan and drew with Hong Kong in the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Team Look and Home Grounds

The Turkmenistan national football team in their green home kit.

Team Kits

The team has had different kit suppliers over the years.

•  ????–2007: Nike (USA)
• 2007–2010: Jako (Germany)
• 2010–2011: Adidas (Germany)
• 2012–2016: Umbro (UK)
• 2016–2018: Joma (Spain)
• 2019–2023: Jako (Germany)
• 2023–2024: Hummel (Denmark)
• 2024–present: Kelme (Spain)

Home Stadiums

Ashgabat Olympic Stadium.

Since 1992, the main home stadium for the Turkmenistan national football team has been the Köpetdag Stadium in Ashgabat. This stadium was built in 1997 and was renovated in 2015. It can hold 26,503 fans.

From 2003 to 2012, the Ashgabat Olympic Stadium was also used as a main home ground. This stadium was renovated between 2013 and 2017 and can hold 45,000 spectators. However, it is not currently used for football matches.

The national team has also played home games in other cities in Turkmenistan. These include the Sport Toplumy Stadium in Dashoguz and the Sport Toplumy Stadium in Balkanabat.

Recent Matches and Upcoming Games

Here are some of the recent match results for the Turkmenistan national football team.

      Win       Draw       Loss

Matches in 2024

• June 6: World Cup qualification vs. Uzbekistan . Turkmenistan lost 3–1.
• June 11: World Cup qualification vs.  Hong Kong. The match ended in a 0–0 draw.
• October 10: Friendly match vs. Malta . This match was cancelled.

Matches in 2025

• March 25: AFC Asian Cup Qualification vs. Chinese Taipei . Turkmenistan won 2–1.
• June 10: AFC Asian Cup Qualification vs.  Thailand. Turkmenistan won 3–1.

Team Management

Coaching Staff

Role	Name
Head coach	Rovshen Meredov
Assistant coach	Myrat Baýramow Wladislaw Golowanow Güwançmyrat Annadurdyýew
Goalkeeper coach	Begençguly Ýusupow

Coaching History

Many coaches have led the Turkmenistan national team over the years. Some notable coaches include Baýram Durdyýew, Rahym Gurbanmämmedow, and Ýazguly Hojageldyýew. The current head coach is Rovshen Meredov.

Players: Who Plays for Turkmenistan?

Current Team Squad

These players were chosen for the 2027 Asian Cup qualification match against Thailand in June 2025.

The numbers for games played (caps) and goals scored are correct as of June 10, 2025, after the match against Thailand.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Rasul Çaryýew	(1999-09-30) 30 September 1999 (age 25)	8	0	Arkadag
17	1GK	Rüstem Ahallyýew	(2002-11-16) 16 November 2002 (age 22)	4	0	Arkadag
20	1GK	Kakageldi Berdiýew	(2004-02-24) 24 February 2004 (age 21)	0	0	Ahal
2	2DF	Zafar Babajanow	(1987-02-09) 9 February 1987 (age 38)	12	1	Altyn Asyr
3	2DF	Güýçmyrat Annagulyýew	(1996-06-10) 10 June 1996 (age 29)	21	2	Arkadag
4	2DF	Mekan Saparow (captain)	(1994-04-22) 22 April 1994 (age 31)	34	2	Altyn Asyr
5	2DF	Abdy Bäşimow	(1995-12-12) 12 December 1995 (age 29)	20	1	Arkadag
12	2DF	Ybraýym Mämmedow	(1996-01-13) 13 January 1996 (age 29)	8	0	Arkadag
21	2DF	Yhlas Saparmämmedow	(1997-02-25) 25 February 1997 (age 28)	9	1	Arkadag
23	2DF	Arzuwguly Sapargulýyew	(2001-07-27) 27 July 2001 (age 23)	1	0	Arkadag
7	3MF	Ahmet Ataýew	(1990-09-19) 19 September 1990 (age 34)	37	1	Arkadag
16	3MF	Teýmur Çaryýew	(2000-11-26) 26 November 2000 (age 24)	10	1	Torpedo-BelAZ
18	3MF	Mirza Beknazarow	(2000-05-15) 15 May 2000 (age 25)	7	0	Arkadag
19	3MF	Welmyrat Ballakow	(1999-04-04) 4 April 1999 (age 26)	11	0	Arkadag
6	4FW	Meýlis Diniýew	(2000-07-11) 11 July 2000 (age 25)	3	0	Ahal
8	4FW	Ýazgylyç Gurbanow	(1997-03-07) 7 March 1997 (age 28)	7	1	Arkadag
9	4FW	Altymyrat Annadurdyýew	(1993-04-13) 13 April 1993 (age 32)	35	9	Arkadag
10	4FW	Elman Tagaýew	(1989-06-02) 2 June 1989 (age 36)	19	3	Ahal
11	4FW	Didar Durdyýew	(1993-07-16) 16 July 1993 (age 32)	21	3	Arkadag
13	4FW	Mihail Titow	(1997-10-18) 18 October 1997 (age 27)	10	2	Uzgen
14	3MF	Şanazar Tirkişow	(1997-02-16) 16 February 1997 (age 28)	12	2	Arkadag
15	3MF	Daýanç Meredow	(2003-02-15) 15 February 2003 (age 22)	2	0	Ahal
22	4FW	Rahman Myratberdiýew	(2001-10-31) 31 October 2001 (age 23)	3	0	Altyn Asyr

Player Records: Most Games and Goals

Players in bold are still playing for Turkmenistan.

Most Appearances

Arslanmyrat Amanow has played the most games for Turkmenistan.

Top Goalscorers

Wladimir Baýramow is Turkmenistan's top scorer with 16 goals.

Tournament Records

FIFA World Cup

Turkmenistan has not yet qualified for the FIFA World Cup. They have played in many qualification rounds.

FIFA World Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1990	Part of  Soviet Union									Part of  Soviet Union
1994	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1998	Did not qualify									6	2	0	4	8	13
2002										6	4	0	2	12	7
2006										8	4	1	3	21	10
2010										10	3	2	5	9	13
2014										2	0	1	1	4	5
2018										8	4	1	3	10	11
2022									6	3	0	3	8	11
2026									6	0	2	4	4	14
Total	–	0/8	–	–	–	–	–	–	52	20	7	25	76	84

AFC Asian Cup

Turkmenistan has played in the AFC Asian Cup twice.

AFC Asian Cup record										AFC Asian Cup qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1956 to 1988	Part of  Soviet Union									Part of  Soviet Union
1992	Not an AFC member									Not an AFC member
1996	Did not qualify									4	0	1	3	3	8
2000										4	3	0	1	15	6
2004	Round 1	12th	3	0	1	2	4	6		6	4	2	0	10	2
2007	Did not enter									Did not enter
2011	Did not qualify									AFC Challenge Cup
2015
2019	Group stage	21st	3	0	0	3	3	10		14	7	2	5	19	21
2023	Did not qualify									9	4	0	5	11	16
Total	Best: Group stage	2/18	6	0	1	5	7	16		37	18	5	14	58	53

AFC Challenge Cup

Turkmenistan has done well in the AFC Challenge Cup, reaching the finals twice.

AFC Challenge Cup record
Year	Result	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2006	Did not enter
2008	Group stage	3	1	1	1	6	2
2010	Runners-up	5	3	2	0	6	2
2012	Runners-up	5	3	1	1	9	4
2014	Group stage	3	1	0	2	6	6
Total	Best: Runners-up	16	8	4	4	27	14

Team Rivalries

A match between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan at the 2019 Asian Cup.

The main rivals for the Turkmenistan national team are other countries in Central Asia. These include the national teams of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Games between these Central Asian teams are always very exciting for fans. Football is a way for these countries to compete.

FIFA Ranking History

Team Achievements

Continental Awards

• AFC Challenge Cup
  • Runners-up (2): 2010, 2012

Friendly Tournament Wins

• Turkmenistan President's Cup (1): 1997
• HCM City Cup (1): 2008

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Turkmenistán para niños