Kyrgyz Republic claimed their first-ever title across all CAFA competitions as the CAFA U17 Women’s Championship 2026 concluded at Dustlik Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The historic achievement marked a special moment for the team and the Kyrgyz Football Union, with the young champions finishing unbeaten after three matches.
Organised by the Central Asian Football Association, the competition brought together Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan for matches on 15, 17 and 19 September. Played in a single round-robin format, with each team meeting every other team once, the championship produced 13 goals across six matches.
The title race began with an important 2–1 victory for Kyrgyz Republic over IR Iran. Narselia Iliasova opened the scoring in the 24th minute before Maryam Khalilifar equalised five minutes later. Perizat Zairbekova then struck in the 66th minute to secure three points that would prove decisive in the final standings. In the other opening-day match, substitute Sabrina Bekniyazova scored in the 84th minute to give Uzbekistan a 1–0 win over Tajikistan.
IR Iran responded on Matchday 2 with a 4–0 victory over Tajikistan, the biggest win of the tournament. Khalilifar scored twice, with Tania Ghorbani and Fatemeh Eisavand Loshtari also on target. A goalless draw between Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan left both teams on four points, with Iran just one point behind heading into the final matchday.
Kyrgyz Republic completed their campaign with a 2–0 win over Tajikistan. Zairbekova opened the scoring in the 18th minute, while substitute Akak Ishembieva added the second in the 74th. The result took Kyrgyz Republic to seven points, with two wins, one draw and only one goal conceded throughout the championship.
The final fixture saw IR Iran defeat Uzbekistan 2–1 to secure second place with six points. Khalilifar scored in the 78th minute and again in second-half stoppage time, before Parizoda Nazirova pulled a goal back for Uzbekistan. The hosts finished third with four points, while Tajikistan gained further international experience across their three matches.
Beyond the results, the championship served CAFA’s continuing commitment to developing women’s football across Central Asia. Regular regional competition gives young players opportunities to test themselves against international opponents and helps national teams prepare for AFC qualification, while supporting their longer-term development towards AFC and FIFA tournaments.
CAFA extends special congratulations to the Kyrgyz Football Union, the players and the coaching staff on this historic first title. Their success offers an encouraging example for the next generation of girls pursuing football in the region.
Tournament awards
- Special Award: Tajikistan
- Fair Play Award: Uzbekistan
- Top Goalscorer: No. 10 Maryam Khalilifar (IR Iran) — 5 goals
- Most Valuable Player: No. 15 Perizat Zairbekova (Kyrgyz Republic)