2025 CAFA Nations Cup

2025 CAFA Nations Cup
Tournament details
Host countriesTajikistan
Uzbekistan
Dates29 August – 8 September
Teams8 (from 3 sub-confederations)
Venue(s)3 (in 2 host cities)
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The 2025 CAFA Nations Cup will be the second edition of the CAFA Nations Cup, the biennial international men's football championship of Central Asia organized by the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA). The event will be held in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan from August 29 to September 8.

Background

In April 2025, it was announced that the second edition of the CAFA Nations Cup would be held around September 2025, commemorating the ten-year anniversary of the CAFA organization.[1][2]

In June 2025, it was confirmed the second edition would be co-hosted in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan on 29 August to 8 September 2025 for the six member associations along with Malaysia and Oman as the guest teams.[3][4]

On 15 July 2025, Malaysia announced their withdrawal from the competition, citing problems with logistics and players' availability as the reasons.[5] On 30 July 2025, India was announced as the guest team, replacing Malaysia in Group B.[6]

Participating nations

Country Appearance Previous best performance FIFA ranking
(3 April 2025)
 Afghanistan 2nd Group stage (2023) 160
 India[a] (invitee) 1st Debut 127
 Iran 2nd Winners (2023) 18
 Kyrgyzstan 2nd Fourth place (2023) 103
 Oman (invitee) 2nd Third place (2023) 77
 Tajikistan (co-hosts) 2nd Group stage (2023) 104
 Turkmenistan 2nd Group stage (2023) 142
 Uzbekistan (co-hosts) 2nd Runners-up (2023) 57

Seeding

The following eight teams were divided based on their FIFA Ranking of April 2025. Malaysia was part of the 3 July draw but later withdrew on 15 July.

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

Draw results

The draw was held in Dushanbe on 3 July 2025 at 16:00 (UTC+5), and was broadcast live on YouTube. The draw resulted in the following groups with Malaysia included at the time of the draw, later being replaced by India:[7][8][9]

Group A
Pos Team
A1  Uzbekistan
A2  Kyrgyzstan
A3  Turkmenistan
A4  Oman
Group B
Pos Team
B1  Tajikistan
B2  Iran
B3  Afghanistan
B4  India[a]

Venues

Tajikistan
Hisor
2025 CAFA Nations Cup (Tajikistan)
Hisor Central Stadium
Capacity: 20,000
Uzbekistan
Tashkent
2025 CAFA Nations Cup (Uzbekistan)
Milliy Stadium Pakhtakor Central Stadium
Capacity: 40,000 Capacity: 35,000

Squads

Main article: 2025 CAFA Nations Cup squads

Each team had to register a squad with a minimum of 18 players and a maximum of 26 players, at least three of whom must be goalkeepers.

Officials

Group stage

All times are local, Uzbekistan Time & Tajikistan Time (UTC+5).

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Uzbekistan (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to final
2  Kyrgyzstan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to third place match
3  Turkmenistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Oman 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 30 August 2025. Source:
(H) Hosts
Uzbekistan v Oman
Kyrgyzstan v Turkmenistan
Oman v Kyrgyzstan
Turkmenistan v Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan v Kyrgyzstan
Turkmenistan v Oman

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Tajikistan (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to final
2  Iran 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to third place match
3  Afghanistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  India 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 29 August 2025. Source:
(H) Hosts
Iran v Afghanistan
Tajikistan v India
India v Iran
Afghanistan v Tajikistan
Afghanistan v India
Tajikistan v Iran

Knockout round

Bracket

 
Final
 
  
 
8 September – Tashkent
 
 
Group A winner
 
 
Group B winner
 
 
 
 
 
Third place match
 
 
8 September – Hisor
 
 
Group B runner-up
 
 
Group A runner-up
 

Third place match

Group B runner-upvGroup A runner-up

Final

Group A winnervGroup B winner

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c India replaced Malaysia in Group B after the latter's withdrawal.

References

  1. ^ "Iran to play friendly matches against Russia and Chile – PersianFootball.com".
  2. ^ Tukueva, Tilebaldy (6 January 2025). "Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) changes its logo". 24.KG.
  3. ^ "CAFA Nations Cup-2025: A championship with fierce competition and new guests". Zamin.uz. 28 June 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Uzbekistan to host CAFA Nations Cup 2025". Qalampir.uz. 28 June 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Why did Malaysia withdraw from the CAFA Nations Cup 2025?". Zamin.uz. 15 July 2025.
  6. ^ "India to play CAFA Nations Cup 2025". www.the-aiff.com. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  7. ^ Official Draw | CAFA NATIONS CUP 2025. Central Asian Football Association. 3 July 2025 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "Harimau Malaya drawn with Iran in Cafa Nations Cup". Free Malaysia Today. Bernama. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  9. ^ "India to play CAFA Nations Cup 2025". AIFF Media Team. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
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