Turkmenistan national football team facts for kids
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Nickname(s) | Emerald Greens Karakum Warriors |
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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 | ||
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FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 136 ![]() |
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Highest | 86 (April 2004) | ||
Lowest | 174 (September 2007) | ||
Elo ranking | |||
Current | 154 ![]() |
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Highest | 83 (31 March 2004) | ||
Lowest | 154 (27 March 2018) | ||
First international | |||
![]() ![]() (Almaty, Kazakhstan; 1 June 1992) |
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Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() (Ashgabat, Turkmenistan; 19 November 2003) |
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Biggest defeat | |||
![]() ![]() (Dushanbe, Tajikistan; 22 June 1997) ![]() ![]() (Kuwait City, Kuwait; 10 February 2000) ![]() ![]() (Doha, Qatar; 31 May 2004) ![]() ![]() (Riffa, Bahrain; 3 August 2005) ![]() ![]() (Goyang, South Korea; 5 June 2021) ![]() ![]() (Tehran, Iran; 21 March 2024) |
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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).
Contents
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 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.
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 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
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
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 |
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Head coach | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Goalkeeper coach | ![]() |
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 |
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1 | GK | Rasul Çaryýew | 30 September 1999 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
17 | GK | Rüstem Ahallyýew | 16 November 2002 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
20 | GK | Kakageldi Berdiýew | 24 February 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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2 | DF | Zafar Babajanow | 9 February 1987 | 12 | 1 | ![]() |
3 | DF | Güýçmyrat Annagulyýew | 10 June 1996 | 21 | 2 | ![]() |
4 | DF | Mekan Saparow (captain) | 22 April 1994 | 34 | 2 | ![]() |
5 | DF | Abdy Bäşimow | 12 December 1995 | 20 | 1 | ![]() |
12 | DF | Ybraýym Mämmedow | 13 January 1996 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
21 | DF | Yhlas Saparmämmedow | 25 February 1997 | 9 | 1 | ![]() |
23 | DF | Arzuwguly Sapargulýyew | 27 July 2001 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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7 | MF | Ahmet Ataýew | 19 September 1990 | 37 | 1 | ![]() |
16 | MF | Teýmur Çaryýew | 26 November 2000 | 10 | 1 | ![]() |
18 | MF | Mirza Beknazarow | 15 May 2000 | 7 | 0 | ![]() |
19 | MF | Welmyrat Ballakow | 4 April 1999 | 11 | 0 | ![]() |
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6 | FW | Meýlis Diniýew | 11 July 2000 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
8 | FW | Ýazgylyç Gurbanow | 7 March 1997 | 7 | 1 | ![]() |
9 | FW | Altymyrat Annadurdyýew | 13 April 1993 | 35 | 9 | ![]() |
10 | FW | Elman Tagaýew | 2 June 1989 | 19 | 3 | ![]() |
11 | FW | Didar Durdyýew | 16 July 1993 | 21 | 3 | ![]() |
13 | FW | Mihail Titow | 18 October 1997 | 10 | 2 | ![]() |
14 | MF | Şanazar Tirkişow | 16 February 1997 | 12 | 2 | ![]() |
15 | MF | Daýanç Meredow | 15 February 2003 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
22 | FW | Rahman Myratberdiýew | 31 October 2001 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
Player Records: Most Games and Goals
- Players in bold are still playing for Turkmenistan.
Most Appearances
Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
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1 | Arslanmyrat Amanow | 63 | 14 | 2009–2024 |
2 | Bahtiýar Hojaahmedow | 40 | 1 | 2008–2017 |
Kamil Mingazow | 40 | 3 | 1992–2004 | |
4 | Serdar Annaorazow | 39 | 0 | 2012–2019 |
Omar Berdiýew | 39 | 1 | 2000–2010 | |
Begençmuhammet Kulyýew | 39 | 11 | 1997–2006 | |
7 | Ahmet Ataýew | 37 | 1 | 2012–present |
8 | Gurbangeldi Durdyýew | 36 | 2 | 1992–2004 |
9 | Altymyrat Annadurdyýew | 35 | 9 | 2015–present |
Wladimir Baýramow | 35 | 16 | 2000–2013 | |
Şöhrat Söýünow | 35 | 0 | 2011–present |
Top Goalscorers
Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wladimir Baýramow | 16 | 35 | 0.46 | 2000–2013 |
2 | Arslanmyrat Amanow | 14 | 63 | 0.22 | 2009–2024 |
3 | Çaryýar Muhadow | 13 | 18 | 0.72 | 1992–2000 |
4 | Rejepmyrat Agabaýew | 12 | 30 | 0.4 | 1994–2004 |
5 | Begençmuhammet Kulyýew | 11 | 39 | 0.28 | 2000–2013 |
6 | Berdymyrat Şamyradow | 10 | 24 | 0.42 | 2008–2015 |
7 | Guwançmuhammet Öwekow | 9 | 23 | 0.39 | 2003–2010 |
Muslim Agaýew | 9 | 25 | 0.36 | 1994–2007 | |
Altymyrat Annadurdyýew | 9 | 35 | 0.26 | 2015–present | |
10 | Didargylyç Urazow | 6 | 18 | 0.33 | 1996–2003 |
Mämmedaly Garadanow | 6 | 22 | 0.27 | 2004–2011 | |
Ruslan Mingazow | 6 | 30 | 0.2 | 2009–present |
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 | ||||||||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1930 to 1990 | Part of ![]() |
Part of ![]() |
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Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | |||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 13 | ||||||||
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6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 7 | |||||||||
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8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 10 | |||||||||
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10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 13 | |||||||||
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||
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8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | |||||||||
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6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 11 | |||||||||
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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 | |||||||||||||||
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Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
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Part of ![]() |
Part of ![]() |
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Not an AFC member | Not an AFC member | ||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | |||||||||
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4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 6 | ||||||||||
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Round 1 | 12th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | AFC Challenge Cup | ||||||||||||||
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Group stage | 21st | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 21 | ||
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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.
Team Rivalries
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
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