Kyrgyzstan national football team

Until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Kyrgyz football players played for the USSR national football team. After Kyrgyzstan gained independence on August 31, 1991, the national team was created. Kyrgyzstan played its first match on August 23, 1992, in the Central Asian Cup against Uzbekistan in Tashkent. The match ended in a 3-0 victory for Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan eventually finished in fourth place. The team was scheduled to play against Turkmenistan on July 16, 1992, but the match was cancelled due to the absence of the Turkmenistan team. In 1993, Kyrgyzstan participated in the 1993 ECO Cup in Iran, but failed to advance past the group stage.

In 1994, the Football Federation of Kyrgyzstan was admitted as a full member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA. The team participated in the Uzbekistan Independence Cup, finishing in last place. The team did not play any matches in 1995, and in 1996, they participated in the 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification, finishing in second place in their group and failing to advance. In 1997, Kyrgyzstan participated in 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification, but was eliminated in the first round after finishing second in their group.

In 1999, Kyrgyzstan played in 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification, but finished in last place in their group. The team participated in the 2000 WAFF Championship, but again finished in last place. In 2001, Kyrgyzstan participated in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification, but was eliminated in the first round after finishing third in their group.

In 2002, the team did not play any matches, and in 2003, they participated in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification, finishing in second place in their group and failing to advance. That same year, they also participated in the first round of the qualifying tournament for the 2006 World Cup, advancing to the next round after defeating Pakistan in both matches. In 2004, Kyrgyzstan participated in the second stage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, but finished in fourth place in their group.

Kyrgyzstan starting line-up against Philippines at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Group C match, gaining their first ever win in their history in the tournament

In the years since, Kyrgyzstan has seen some success, participating in the 2010, 2014, and 2018 editions of the AFC Challenge Cup, finishing in third place in 2010 and as runners-up in 2014 . During the third round of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification, Kyrgyzstan was grouped with India, Myanmar and Macau in which they got 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 lost seeing Kyrgyzstan qualified to their first-ever major tournament in the 2019 edition of the AFC Asian Cup.[3] In the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, Kyrgyzstan was drawn in Group C alongside China, Philippines and heavyweights South Korea. The team lost back to back to China and South Korea needing a desperate win against the Philippines in the last match to at least qualified to the knockout stage which Vitalij Lux scored a hat-trick gaining Kyrgyzstan their first ever win in their history of the tournament seeing them through to the Round of 16 facing United Arab Emirates. Throughout the match, UAE was leading at 2–1 where in the 90' minute stoppage time, Tursunali Rustamov scored a header from a corner kick to equalised the match at 2–2 sending it into extra time however their luck ran out as Ahmed Khalil scored a penalty seeing Kyrgyzstan out from the tournament. In the same year, Kyrgyzstan reached their highest-ever FIFA ranking of 75th.

In the 2023 Asian Cup qualification, Kyrgyzstan hosted all of the Group F matches being grouped with neighbours, Tajikistan and two Southeast Asia countries, Myanmar and Singapore. In the first match, the team bounced back from 1–0 down as Valery Kichin converted a penalty to level the score in the 77' minute in which Viktor Maier scored the winner in the 82' minute to secure the three points for Kyrgyzstan. In the next fixture, Viktor Maier scored a brace against Myanmar securing another three points for Kyrgyzstan before facing Tajikistan in a goalless draw in the final fixture seeing both team advancing to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.

In 2023, Kyrgyzstan alongside Uzbekistan hosted the inaugural 2023 CAFA Nations Cup.

The following 28 players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Chinese Taipei on 21 & 26 March 2024.[9]

Caps and goals correct as of 26 March 2024, after the match against  Chinese Taipei.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Erzhan Tokotayev	(2000-07-17) 17 July 2000	25	0	Şanlıurfaspor
13	1GK	Sultan Chomoev	(2003-01-20) 20 January 2003	1	0	Dordoi Bishkek
16	1GK	Dastan Alybekov	(1997-08-17) 17 August 1997	0	0	Neftchi Kochkor-Ata
2	2DF	Valery Kichin	(1992-10-12) 12 October 1992	45	5	Yenisey Krasnoyarsk
3	2DF	Tamirlan Kozubaev	(1994-07-01) 1 July 1994	56	2	Eastern
4	2DF	Amantur Shamurzaev	(2000-01-25) 25 January 2000	4	0	Abdysh-Ata Kant
5	2DF	Baktai Taalaibek uulu	(1992-04-26) 26 April 1992	0	0	Muras United
6	2DF	Khristiyan Brauzman	(2003-08-15) 15 August 2003	21	1	Abdysh-Ata Kant
10	2DF	Magamed Uzdenov	(1994-02-25) 25 February 1994	4	0	Abdysh-Ata Kant
14	2DF	Aleksandr Mishchenko	(1997-07-30) 30 July 1997	20	0	Dordoi Bishkek
	2DF	Said Datsiev	(2003-04-10) 10 April 2003	1	0	Dordoi Bishkek
8	3MF	Murolimzhon Akhmedov	(1992-01-05) 5 January 1992	20	0	Dordoi Bishkek
11	3MF	Kimi Merk	(2004-07-06) 6 July 2004	9	1	Pakhtakor
12	3MF	Odilzhon Abdurakhmanov	(1996-03-18) 18 March 1996	41	2	Unattached
15	3MF	Kai Merk	(1998-08-28) 28 August 1998	15	2	Union Titus Pétange
17	3MF	Gulzhigit Alykulov	(2000-11-25) 25 November 2000	34	4	Neman Grodno
18	3MF	Nurdoolot Stalbekov	(2001-09-13) 13 September 2001	4	0	Alay
19	3MF	Bektur Amangeldiev	(1998-11-20) 20 November 1998	0	0	Nagaworld
20	3MF	Beknaz Almazbekov	(2005-06-23) 23 June 2005	10	0	Galatasaray
21	3MF	Eldiyar Zarypbekov	(2001-09-14) 14 September 2001	4	0	Chayka Peschanokopskoye
22	3MF	Ermek Kenzhebayev	(2003-04-03) 3 April 2003	2	0	Slavia Mozyr
23	3MF	Erbol Atabaev	(2001-08-15) 15 August 2001	12	0	Volgar Astrakhan
	3MF	Atay Dzhumashev	(1998-09-15) 15 September 1998	6	0	Abdysh-Ata Kant
	3MF	Adil Kadyrzhanov	(2000-07-14) 14 July 2000	4	0	Dordoi Bishkek
	3MF	Amir Zhaparov	(1994-02-25) 25 February 1994	3	0	Muras United
7	4FW	Joel Kojo	(1998-08-21) 21 August 1998	15	7	Dinamo Samarqand
9	4FW	Ernist Batyrkanov	(1998-02-21) 21 February 1998	33	3	Abdysh-Ata Kant
	4FW	Ryskeldi Artykbayev	(2001-04-09) 9 April 2001	1	0	Dordoi Bishkek
	4FW	Marlen Murzakhmatov	(2003-05-21) 21 May 2003	0	0	Dordoi Bishkek
	4FW	Nurislam Oruntaev	(2005-02-04) 4 February 2005	0	0	Ilbirs Bishkek

In 2006, Kyrgyzstan 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 Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, who were both represented by their national futsal teams.

Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
2006	Semi-finals		5	2	1	2	11	8

*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.