Football is the most popular sport in Afghanistan. Formed in 1922 and affiliated to FIFA since 1948, the Afghanistan Football Federation and the Afghanistan national football team lay dormant for many years. The side did not play a competitive international match from 1984 until 2002, when they competed at the Asian Games in Busan, Korea. The results were 10-0 to Iran, 11-0 against Qatar and 11-0 to Lebanon. The nation recorded its first victory in almost 20 years in March 2003 when they beat Kyrgyzstan 2-1 in an Asian Cup qualifying match. Sayeed Tahir Shah and Farid Azami were the scorers on that day. Their results in the 8-nation South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup were also respectable – losing to Sri Lanka and Pakistan 1-0 and India 4-0.
Afghanistan took part in the 1948 Olympic tournament, playing just once in a 6-0 defeat to Luxembourg. They also appeared twice at the Asian Games but otherwise have no major international track record. The Afghanistan national football team occasionally played in Asian Cup qualifiers without much winning, except in early 2003 when they celebrated their first victory, a 2-1 win against Nepal.
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The first football games to be played in Afghanistan were played between 4 school teams back in 1923, these four teams were Maktab Habibiyeh, Maktab Esteghlal, Tafrih Team and Mohajer Team.
The first football club to be founded in Afghanistan was Mahmoudiyeh F.C. which was founded in 1934. Three years later the team traveled to India and took part in 18 games of which won 8, lost 9 and tied 1.
The second football club to be formed in the country was Ariana Kabul F.C. which was established in 1941. This team traveled to Tehran upon invitation from Iran, played 3 games in which 1 was won and losing 2. In the same year the Afghanistan national football team (Ariana Kabul F.C.) was formed when they played the Iran national football team in a 0-0 draw for first international game.
In 2007, the Afghanistan women's national football team was created. It is directed by the Afghan Sports Federation or the Afghanistan Olympic Committee.
There are currently two leagues for Men: Kabul Premier League, which is the country's major league, comprising twelve teams from Kabul.
Then there is a Afghan National League to promote football in the 34 Provinces of Afghanistan.
There is also a league for women: Women Kabul League, consist of 17 teams from Kabul.
There following is an incomplete list of football stadiums in different cities of Afghanistan:
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