Turkmenistan Youth National Team Starts Campaign at CAFA-2026 Championship
The next Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) U20 Championship kicks off today in Tajikistan. The Turkmenistan youth national team will test its strength in this prestigious regional competition.
According to the CAFA press service, youth teams from five nations—Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—are participating. The tournament follows a single round-robin format, where the team with the most points will be crowned champion.
Match Schedule for Turkmenistan:
- May 12: Opening match against Afghanistan;
- May 13: Match against the hosts, Tajikistan;
- May 15: Clash with Kyrgyzstan;
- May 19: Final round match against Uzbekistan.
Currently, the U20 national team is led by 45-year-old coach Didar Hajyýew, who also manages the "Arkadag-2" team. Following last year's 5th-place finish at CAFA-2025, fans expect the team to reach higher standings under the new coaching staff.
