Afghanistan’s under-17 national football team is set to open its campaign in the Central Asian Football Championship on Monday, facing Kyrgyzstan in its first match of the tournament.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 1:30 p.m. Kabul time in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where the regional competition is being held.
The match marks Afghanistan’s opening appearance in the 2026 edition of the championship, which brings together youth teams from five Central Asian countries. The tournament began on Sunday and is set to run through April 15.
Afghanistan’s team arrived in Tashkent ahead of the competition and held at least one preparatory training match in the city, as it seeks to build momentum against regional rivals.
The Central Asian Football Championship is part of broader efforts to develop youth football across the region, offering emerging players international experience and exposure at an early stage.
Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan’s first opponent, is considered a competitive side in Central Asian youth football, setting up a potentially challenging opening fixture.
The tournament format provides teams with multiple matches over a 10-day period, giving Afghanistan opportunities to test its squad and gain experience against neighboring countries.
