26 May I The 11th Congress of the CAFA was successfully held on 26 May 2026 via video conference, bringing together representatives of all six CAFA Member Associations, members of the CAFA Executive Committee, and representatives of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The Congress was chaired by CAFA First Vice President Mr. Mohammad Yosuf Kargar.
Addressing the Congress on behalf of CAFA President H.E. Rustam Emomali, Mr. Kargar highlighted the significant achievements of CAFA and its Member Associations during the previous year. He congratulated all participants on the occasion of World Football Day, an initiative originally proposed by H.E. Rustam Emomali and subsequently recognized by the United Nations and FIFA. He emphasized the successful organization of the second edition of the CAFA Nations Cup, which featured participation from all six CAFA Member Associations alongside guest teams from other Asian regions, further strengthening regional cooperation and international football development.
The First Vice President also congratulated the Tajikistan Football Federation on the national team’s qualification for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 and extended congratulations to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan for qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026. He noted that these achievements demonstrate the continued progress and promising future of football development within Central Asia. Looking ahead, he wished success to the Islamic Republic of Iran and Uzbekistan in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
CAFA General Secretary Mr. Ulugbek Karimov presented the General Secretary’s Report, outlining the Association’s activities and achievements during 2025. He reported that CAFA had successfully organized numerous competitions, including the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, the CAFA U-17 Championship, the CAFA U-20 Championship featuring the implementation of VAR technology, the CAFA Women’s Futsal Championship, and the U-17 and U-18 Women’s Championships. He also highlighted the successful delivery of the Navruz Football Festival 2025, which engaged more than 1,000 children across eight cities in the region.
In addition to competitions, the report emphasized CAFA’s commitment to education and capacity building through the organization of several seminars and webinars, including activities for match officials, the CAFA Referees Seminar and VAR Course, the Media and Marketing Webinar, the Child Safeguarding Seminar, and the Women’s Football Development Seminar conducted in cooperation with Football Australia. The Congress took note of the General Secretary’s report and acknowledged the continued progress achieved by the Association.
The Congress also unanimously approved the Independent External Auditor’s Report for the financial period from 1 January to 31 December 2025, reaffirming CAFA’s commitment to transparency and good governance.
A key item on the agenda was the election of a CAFA Vice President. Following the vacancy created after the departure of the previous office holder from the Football Federation of Turkmenistan, the Congress considered the nomination of Mr. Guvanchmuhammet Ovekov. After confirmation of his eligibility by the CAFA Electoral Committee and in accordance with the CAFA Statutes, the Congress elected Mr. Ovekov by acclamation as CAFA Vice President for the remainder of the 2023–2027 term.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Mohammad Yosuf Kargar congratulated Mr. Guvanchmuhammet Ovekov on his election and thanked all delegates for their active participation. He also extended his best wishes to the Islamic Republic of Iran and Uzbekistan ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, to the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan in their preparations for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, and to Afghanistan and Turkmenistan for their upcoming international matches.
The Congress once again reaffirmed CAFA’s commitment to strengthening cooperation among its Member Associations and continuing the development of football across Central Asia through competitions, education, governance, and international collaboration.
