The Tajikistan national football team represents Tajikistan in international football and is controlled by the Tajikistan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Tajikistan. Tajikistan's homeground is the Markazii Jumhuriyavii Stadium in Dushanbe.
History Tajikistan played its first official game on 11 April 1994 in Tashkent as part of a regional tournament. It lost that game against Kazakhstan 0–1. The first official competition the team entered was the qualifiers for the 1996 AFC Asian Cup, when it was seeded in the 3-team Group 8 with Uzbekistan and Bahrain. Bahrain later withdrew, leaving Tajikistan to a play-off against their Middle Asian neighbors. Tajikistan won the first game 4–0, and were beaten in the away game 0–5 after extra time. It did not enter a World Cup qualifying tournament until the 1998 FIFA World Cup edition, recording 4 victories in its preliminary group stage including a 5–0 triumph over Turkmenistan, and losing only to China, which placed it second behind its eastern neighbors, and out of the tournament.
Following Tajikistan's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, coach Mubin Ergashev and his staff were relieved of their duties.
Tajikistan were drawn into a 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification group with the Philippines, Yemen and Nepal. Following defeat to the Philippines on 27 March 2018, confirming Tajikistan's failure to qualify for the Asian Cup, manager Khakim Fuzailov resigned.
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 Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, and Singapore. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the third round was played in a single round-robin group format with a centralised host, which Tajikistan's group saw its neighbour Kyrgyzstan hosting it. Tajikistan defeated Myanmar (4–0) and Singapore (1–0), before holding neighbour Kyrgyzstan to a goalless draw, topping the group and, after failing in 5 previous attempts, Tajikistan was able to qualify to its first-ever AFC Asian Cup and a major tournament 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.
In the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, Tajikistan reached the quarter-finals for the first time in their history after losing 1–0 to the eventual runner-up Jordan due to a 66th minute own goal from Vahdat Hanonov. Their coach, Petar Šegrt, left his post at the end of this epic campaign due to the expiry of his contract and was replaced by his assistant Gela Shekiladze.
In June 2025, it was announced that Tajikistan would co-host the second edition of the CAFA Nations Cup alongside Uzbekistan.
Kit In September 2017, Tajikistan's kit was supplied by Chinese sporting apparel company Li-Ning.
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
2025
2026
2027
Coaching staff
PositionNameHead coach Igor AngelovskiAssistant coach Milan PavlovićAssistant coach Radmilo AzanjacGoalkeeping coach Alisher TuychievFitness coach Vladimir KrunićFitness coach Andrey MisyukChief analyst Alifbek Beromov
Coaching history Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
Sharif Nazarov (1992–1994) Vladimir Ghulamhaydarov (1994–1995) Abdulla Muradov (1996) Zair Babayev (1997–1998) Sharif Nazarov (1999) Salahiddin Ghafurov (2000–2002) Sharif Nazarov (2003) Zair Babayev (2004) Sharif Nazarov (2004–2006) Mahmadjan Habibullayev (2007) Pulad Qadirov (2008–2011) Alimjan Rafiqov (2011–2012) Kemal Alispahić (2012) Nikola Kavazović (2012–2013) Mubin Ergashev (2013) Mukhsin Mukhamadiev (2013–2015) Mubin Ergashev (2015–2016) Hakim Fuzaylov (2016–2018) Alisher Tuhtayev (2018) Usmon Toshev (2018–2021) Mubin Ergashev (2021) Petar Šegrt (2022–2024) Gela Shekiladze (2024–2025) Goran Stevanović (2025–2026) Igor Angelovski (2026–)
Players Current squad The following 28 players were called for Tajikistan's matches against the Azerbaijan on 23 September, Palestine on 28 Septemeber and China on 6 October.
Caps and goals updated as of 6 October 2026, after the match against China.
Recent call-ups The following players have been called up during the past 12 months.
INJ Withdrew due to injury RET Retired WTH Withdrawn PRE Preliminary squad
Records
Players in bold are still active with Tajikistan.
Most appearances
Rank Player Caps Goals Career1 Akhtam Nazarov10152011–present2 Parvizdzhon Umarbayev75112015–present3Amirbek Juraboev7312014–present4Davron Erghashev7282008–2022Ehson Panjshanbe7292016–present6Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev71102007–20197 Zoir Dzhuraboyev6232016–present8Manuchekhr Safarov5722019–present9Mukhammadzhon Rakhimov5642016–present10Manuchekhr Dzhalilov54202011–2025Rustam Yatimov5602019–present
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career1 Manuchekhr Dzhalilov20542011–20252 Yusuf Rabiev15402003–20153 Numonjon Hakimov13362003–2011Shervoni Mabatshoyev13452018–presentShahrom Samiev14492015–present6 Tokhirjon Muminov11 271993–2003Parvizdzhon Umarbayev11752015–present8Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev10712007–20199Nuriddin Davronov9512008–2021Dilshod Vasiev9522006–2015Ehson Panjshanbe9722016–present
Competitive record
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup recordQualification recordYearResultPosition* 1930 to 1990Part of the Part of the 1994colspan=8 colspan=6 1998colspan=8 rowspan=8 6411152 20022101162 2006841399 2010412174 20148215718 20188125920 202284131412 20266222117 2030colspan=8 rowspan=2 colspan=6 rowspan=2 2034Total—401910218874
AFC Asian Cup
AFC Asian Cup recordQualification recordYearResultPosition* 1956 to 1988Part of the Part of the 1992 colspan=8 colspan=6 1996 colspan=8 rowspan=3 210145 2000320165 2004622235 colspan=8 colspan=6 2011 colspan=8 rowspan=3 2008 AFC Challenge Cup / 2010 AFC Challenge Cup 2015 2012 AFC Challenge Cup / 2014 AFC Challenge Cup 2019165382529 2023Quarter-finals8th512234116231912 2027Qualified6222117TotalQuarter-finals1/7512234 44 18 9 17 68 63
AFC Challenge Cup
AFC Challenge Cup recordQualification recordYearPositionPldWD*LGFGAPldWD*LGFGA 2006 Champions6501182colspan=6 2008 Runners-up522175320171 2010 Third place 530 285Automatic Qualifier 2012 Group stage 310234321040 2014colspan=7 320141Total1 Title 16 102 3 32129612152
Asian Games Football at the Asian Games has been an under-23 tournament since 2002.
Asian Games recordYearPositionPldWD*LGFGA1951 to 1990Part of the 1994colspan=7 1998Second round51138132002 to presentSee Tajikistan national under-23 football teamTotal 5113813
CAFA Nations Cup CAFA Nations Cup recordYearPosition 2023Group stage302137 2025311154Total6132811
Honours
Continental AFC Challenge Cup Champions (1): 2006 Runners-up (1): 2008 Third place (1): 2010
Friendly King's Cup (1): 2022 Merdeka Tournament (1): 2023
Summary Only official honours are included, according to FIFA statutes (competitions organized/recognized by FIFA or an affiliated confederation). Competition TotalAFC Challenge Cup1113Total1113
Head-to-head record
National teamPlayedWonDrawnLostGFGAGD% WonConfederationAFCAFCUEFAAFCAFCUEFAAFCAFCAFCAFCUEFAAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCUEFAAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCUEFAAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCCONCACAFAFCCAFAFCAFCAFCAFCTotal4/6
Notes
References
External links
Tajikistan at AFC Tajikistan at FIFA Tajikistan profile at Ukrainian Football News Official Website of Tajikistan Football Tajikistan at Global Sports Archive