Tajikistan national football team

Tajikistan participated in the inaugural 2006 AFC Challenge Cup held in Bangladesh being grouped with Kyrgyzstan, Macau and Pakistan. Tajikistan won Macau 4–0 and Pakistan 2–0 in the first two match before losing narrowly to neighbours Kyrgyzstan 1–0 but ended up advancing to the next round as group leaders. In the quarter-finals, Tajikistan massively win against host, Bangladesh 6–1 facing Kyrgyzstan again in the semi-finals but this time winning them 2–0 which see them advanced to the final beating Sri Lanka 4–0 in Dhaka which Tajikistan won its first international tournament.

Following Tajikistan's disappointing 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Mubin Ergashev and his staff were relieved of their duties.[3]

Tajikistan were drawn into a 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification group with the Philippines, Yemen and Nepal. Following their defeat to Philippines on 27 March 2018, confirming Tajikistan's failure to qualify for the Asian Cup, manager Khakim Fuzailov resigned.[4]

Due to the unsuccessful performance of Tajikistan in recent years, Usmon Toshev, the Uzbek coach, was appointed to reinvigorate the Tajik side. Under Usmon, Tajikistan performed well in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying, managing to beat neighbor Kyrgyzstan 1–0 and holding the same opponent 1–1 away. However, Tajikistan suffered a heartbreaking shock 3–4 loss to minnows Myanmar away, in what was considered to be a shock given Myanmar's poor form in early games, thus putting Tajikistan into trouble. Ultimately, with the withdrawal of North Korea, Tajikistan paid dearly when its points against Mongolia were not counted, thus following Tajikistan 1–4 away loss to Japan, an Asian powerhouse, Tajikistan was officially out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Eventually, despite Myanmar replacing Mongolia to finish bottom thus added six points for Tajikistan, the Tajiks could not reduce the deficit due to poor goal difference and thus missed out on the final round.

After failing to have a direct spot for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, Tajikistan hired Croatian manager Petar Šegrt, and Tajikistan took part in the third round of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification, joining with old foes Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan, as well as another Southeast Asian rival Singapore. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the third round was played only in a single round-robin group format with a centralised host, which Tajikistan's group saw its neighbour Kyrgyzstan hosting it. Tajikistan was able to take advantage from this proximity and defeated both Myanmar (4–0) and Singapore (1–0), before holding neighbour Kyrgyzstan in a goalless draw, topping the group and, after failing in five previous attempts, Tajikistan was able to qualify to its first-ever AFC Asian Cup in 2023. Tajikistan was invited to the 2022 King's Cup in Thailand held in September 2022 where Tajikistan defeated Trinidad and Tobago 2–1 and sees them advanced to the final defeating Malaysia in the penalty shootout winning their second international trophy.[5] Tajikistan displayed in 2022 was rewarded with an invitation to the 2023 Merdeka Tournament held in October 2023. Tajikistan then participated in the tournament with an average age of 21.1 where it supposed to play against Palestine in the semi-finals but then withdraw due to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war which Tajikistan then advanced to the final meeting old foe, Malaysia in the final where Tajikistan came up as victorious defeating Malaysia 2–0.

In September 2017, Tajikistan's kit was supplied by Chinese sporting apparel company Li-Ning.[6] In 2022, Tajikistan switched to having their kit supplied by Italian sporting apparel company Macron.

Tajikistan mostly play their home matches at the Pamir Stadium which currently holds 20,000 seating capacity.

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

The following 23 players were named in the squad for the 2023 Merdeka Tournament to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[8]

Caps and goals updated as of 17 October 2023, after the match against  Malaysia.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Safarmad Gafforov	(2004-04-14) 14 April 2004	0	0	Khatlon
16	1GK	Daler Barotov	(1999-01-29) 29 January 1999	2	0	Istaravshan
23	1GK	Sukhrobkhuja Yusupov	(2004-10-22) 22 October 2004	0	0	CSKA Pamir Dushanbe
2	2DF	Zoir Dzhuraboyev	(1998-09-16) 16 September 1998	30	1	Neftchi Fergana
5	2DF	Manuchekhr Safarov	(2001-05-31) 31 May 2001	28	0	Lokomotiv Tashkent
13	2DF	Fakhriddin Akhtamov	(2004-11-26) 26 November 2004	0	0	FK Khujand
4	2DF	Dilovari Jamshedzoda	(2006-12-02) 2 December 2006	0	0	Barkchi
3	2DF	Barakatullo Nigmatullozoda	(2006-08-17) 17 August 2006	0	0	Barkchi
19	2DF	Kholmurod Nazarov	(1992-02-04) 4 February 1992	3	0	Ravshan Kulob
6	2DF	Vakhdat Khanonov	(2000-07-25) 25 July 2000	23	2	Persepolis
14	2DF	Daler Imomnazarov	(1995-05-31) 31 May 1995	4	0	Eskhata Khujand
7	3MF	Parvizdzhon Umarbayev (captain)	(1994-11-01) 1 November 1994	43	7	CSKA 1948
8	3MF	Amirbek Juraboev	(1996-04-13) 13 April 1996	53	0	Kedah Darul Aman
11	3MF	Mukhammadzhon Rakhimov	(1998-10-15) 15 October 1998	47	3	Buxoro
12	3MF	Ruslan Khayloev	(2003-10-29) 29 October 2003	1	0	Tyumen
17	3MF	Abubakr Sulaimonov	(2006-09-18) 18 September 2006	1	0	Barkchi
15	3MF	Murodali Aknazarov	(2004-11-19) 19 November 2004	3	0	Antalyaspor
9	3MF	Vaisiddin Safarov	(1996-04-15) 15 April 1996	3	0	CSKA Pamir Dushanbe
20	3MF	Alisher Shukurov	(2002-03-30) 30 March 2002	1	0	Kuktosh
10	4FW	Rustam Soirov	(2002-09-12) 12 September 2002	10	1	Lokomotiv Tashkent
22	4FW	Shahrom Samiev	(2001-02-08) 8 February 2001	20	5	Milsami Orhei
18	4FW	Muhammadali Azizboev	(2003-01-04) 4 January 2003	2	0	Khosilot Farkhor
21	4FW	Nuriddin Khamrokulov	(1999-10-25) 25 October 1999	12	1	Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda

The following players have been called up during the past 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Rustam Yatimov	(1998-07-13) 13 July 1998	34	0	Istiklol	v.  Uzbekistan, 17 June 2023
GK	Shokhrukh Kirgizboev	(2002-05-01) 1 May 2002	6	0	Khujand	v. Uzbekistan, 17 June 2023
GK	Mukhriddin Khasanov	(2002-09-23) 23 September 2002	1	0	Istiklol	v. Uzbekistan, 17 June 2023
DF	Muhammadjon Naskov	(1999-05-27) 27 May 1999	0	0	Ravshan Kulob	v.  Singapore, 8 September 2023
DF	Tabrezi Davlatmir	(1998-06-06) 6 June 1998	27	0	Istiklol	v.  Singapore, 8 September 2023
DF	Siyovush Asrorov	(1992-07-21) 21 July 1992	46	0	Istiklol	v.  Uzbekistan, 17 June 2023
DF	Mekhrubon Karimov	(2004-01-09) 9 January 2004	4	0	Samgurali Tsqaltubo	v.  Uzbekistan, 17 June 2023
DF	Sodikjon Kurbonov	(2003-01-19) 19 January 2003	1	0	Istiklol	v.  Uzbekistan, 17 June 2023
DF	Akhtam Nazarov	(1992-09-29) 29 September 1992	74	5	Andijon	v.  Uzbekistan, 17 June 2023
DF	Alidzhon Karomatullozoda	(2002-05-05) 5 May 2002	4	0	Istiklol	v.  Kuwait, 28 March 2023
MF	Komron Tursunov	(1996-04-24) 24 April 1996	28	6	Gokulam Kerala	v.  Singapore, 8 September 2023
MF	Alisher Dzhalilov	(1993-08-29) 29 August 1993	18	5	Istiklol	v.  Uzbekistan, 17 June 2023
MF	Khusrav Toirov	(2004-08-01) 1 August 2004	2	0	Shakhtar Donetsk	v.  Uzbekistan, 17 June 2023
MF	Ehson Panjshanbe	(1999-05-12) 12 May 1999	43	5	Istiklol	v.  Uzbekistan, 17 June 2023
MF	Alidzhoni Ayni	(2004-08-06) 6 August 2004	9	0	Istiklol	v.  Uzbekistan, 17 June 2023
MF	Salam Ashurmamadov	(2003-03-18) 18 March 2003	0	0	Dumiense	v.  Kuwait, 28 March 2023
MF	Khurshed Abdulloev	(2000-05-15) 15 May 2000	0	0	CSKA Pamir Dushanbe	v.  Russia, 17 November 2022
MF	Azizbek Khaitov	(2003-04-06) 6 April 2003	0	0	Dynamo Dushanbe	v.  Russia, 17 November 2022
MF	Amadoni Kamolov	(2003-01-16) 16 January 2003	0	0	Istiklol	v.  Malaysia, 25 September 2022
MF	Parviz Baki-Akhunov	(1998-07-09) 9 July 1998	0	0	Istiklol	v.  Malaysia, 25 September 2022
FW	Amirjon Safarov	(1997-05-27) 27 May 1997	0	0	Ravshan Kulob	vs.  Singapore, 25 September 2023
FW	Masrur Gafurov	(2006-01-21) 21 January 2006	0	0	Barkchi	vs.  Singapore, 25 September 2023
FW	Shervoni Mabatshoev	(2000-12-04) 4 December 2000	15	3	Istiklol	v.  Uzbekistan, 17 June 2023
FW	Manuchekhr Dzhalilov	(1990-09-27) 27 September 1990	51	20	Istiklol	v.  Uzbekistan, 17 June 2023
INJ Withdrew due to injury RET Retired WTH Withdrawn

AFC Asian Cup										AFC Asian Cup qualification
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1992	Did not enter									Did not enter
1996	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	4	5
2000										3	2	0	1	6	5
2004										6	2	2	2	3	5
2007	Did not enter									Did not enter
2011	Did not qualify									2008 AFC Challenge Cup / 2010 AFC Challenge Cup
2015										2012 AFC Challenge Cup / 2014 AFC Challenge Cup
2019										16	5	3	8	25	29
2023	Qualified									11	6	2	3	19	12
2027	To be determined									To be determined
Total	Best:	1/10	–	–	–	–	–	–		38	16	7	15	57	56

• 2010 AFC Challenge Cup was used to determine qualification for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Asian Games record
Host nation(s) / Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
National Team
Hiroshima 1994	Did not enter
Bangkok 1998	Second round	5	1	1	3	8	13
Total	Best: Second round	5	1	1	3	8	13

Football at the Asian Games has been an under-23 tournament since 2002.

• 1965 to 1974: No international team
• 1993: Third Place

• 1997 West Asian Games: Fourth Place
• 2005 Islamic Solidarity Games: Group Stage
• 2019 Intercontinental Cup (India): Runners-up[10]
• 2022 King's Cup: Champions[11]
• 2023 Merdeka Tournament: Champions[12]

In 2006, Tajikistan took part in the inaugural ELF Cup in Northern Cyprus. This competition was originally intended to be for teams that were not members of FIFA; however, the organisers extended invitations to both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, who were both represented by their national futsal teams. Tajikistan failed to get past the group stage.

• AFC Challenge Cup
  • Champions (1): 2006
  • Runners-up (1): 2008
  • Third place (1): 2010

• King's Cup
  • Champions (1): 2022
• Merdeka Tournament
  • Champions (1): 2023
• ECO Cup
  • Third place (1): 1993
• Bangabandhu Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 2018
• Hero Intercontinental Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 2019