The Football Federation of Cambodia is the country’s official governing body for football. It also manages futsal related activities. The federation oversees the affairs of the Cambodian men’s and women’s national football teams, the U17, U21 and U23 teams, the national futsal team and the country’s football leagues.
The federation is based in Phnom Penh and is a member of FIFA, AFC and the ASEAN Football Federation. This article offers a brief insight into the history and current state of the Cambodian Football Federation.
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Cambodia Football Federation History
Football was first brought to Cambodia by French settlers in the early 1920s.th century. In a very short time, the popularity of the sport has grown, leading to the formation of an official body to govern the sport through official rules and regulations.
The Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) was founded in 1933. It was originally called the Khmer Football Association Federation (FKFA). Under this name, the federation continued to operate from 1933 to 1998, and then its name was officially changed to the Football Federation of Cambodia.
The FFC joined FIFA in 1953 and joined the Asian Football Confederation four years later in 1957. It did not become a member of the ASEAN Football Federation until 1996. As such, it is a member of the AFC and the sub-confederation of the AFF.
Although the federation was created in 1933, the national football team was not officially registered with FIFA until the country gained independence from France in 1953. From 1970 to 1975, the team was known as the national football team of the Khmer Republic and was nicknamed Kouprey (meaning bull). . He played his first international match against Malaysia in 1956 at his home stadium but lost.
Football, like other sports, went into decline in Cambodia due to the political and economic instability caused by the Red Hymers. The country could not participate internationally until 1993 and this is also from Thailand. Because the current king of the country, a strict Buddhist, was against football and imposed a ban on it. He allowed the national team to retain its status only if it operated outside of Thailand. In 2004, the federation was allowed to bring the team back to the country and host it in Phnom Penh.
Role of the Cambodia Football Federation
The FFC is responsible for organizing various events and oversees the affairs of the national football and futsal teams and leagues for men, women and youth. The federation also organizes national and domestic level competitions. Here are some details about the national team and leagues you might be interested in.
Cambodia national football team
The national football team, nicknamed the Angkor Warriors, has been playing internationally since 1956. The team first gained attention in 1972 when it finished fourth in the Asian Cup. At the moment, the team is in 177th place.th in the world, and to date she has not been able to take part in any major international event.
One of the best players in the country of his time was Hawke Sochetra, one of the top two strikers in Southeast Asia. The players received the Southeast Asian Player of the Year award in 1997.
The women’s soccer team is currently in 120th place.th in the FIFA rankings. The team played its first international match in 2018. The team played against Indonesia and won the match 12–0, their biggest achievement to date.
Cambodian Premier League
The FFC also oversees the affairs of the national football leagues in the country. The Cambodian Premier League is the country’s top men’s professional football league. The league was founded in 1982. It currently consists of 8 teams and follows a promotion and relegation system with the Cambodian League 2, the second largest league in the country.
The most successful club in the league is Phnom Penh Crown, also the reigning league champion. Phnom Penh Crown has won seven titles to date.
Cambodia is in the World Cup?
The Cambodia national football team is currently ranked 177th.th place in the FIFA rankings. Unfortunately, to date, the team has not been able to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
Who is the best soccer player in Cambodia?
Chan Wathanaka is currently the best footballer in Cambodia. The 28-year-old plays as a striker for the national football team and the Cambodian football club Boeung Ket FC. The player made his international debut in 2013 and is known for his playing skills, agility, speed and ability to score goals from free kicks.
