Football was introduced to Cambodia by its former colonial masters France, with the national football governing body Federation Khmere de Football Association (now the Football Federation of Cambodia) inaugurated in 1933.

Following its sovereign independence in 1953, the Indochina state officially entered the Asian and world football fraternities a year later. It enjoyed its first football peak as Khmer Republic (1970-1975) when its national team achieved its best international campaign with a fourth-place finish in the 1972 AFC Asian Cup finals.

After a two-decade hiatus owing to political turmoil, Cambodia returned to international football in the 1995 Southeast Asian Games (SEA) men’s football tournament in Chiangmai, Thailand.

Following decades of rebuilding the game in the country, the Angkor Warriors recently recorded their most recent international achievement when their Under-23 national team reached the semi-finals of the 2019 SEA Games men’s football tournament in the Philippines.

Notable Football Legends

  • Pen Phat
  • Hok Sochetra
  • Chan Vathanaka

Notable Football Clubs

  • Phnom Penh Crown
  • Svay Rieng
  • Boeung Ket

Cambodia Men’s National Team International Successes

Southeast Asian Games Football Best Finish (full national team until 1999): 1959, 1961, 1971 (as Khmer Republic), 1995, 1997, 1999 (All in Group Stage)

AFF Championship Best Finish: 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004/5, 2008, 2016, 2018 (All in Group Stage)

AFC Asian Cup Appearances (1): 1972 (Fourth, as Khmer Republic)

Cambodia Men’s National Youth Team International Successes

Southeast Asian Games Football Best Finish (Under-23 event since 2001): 2019 (Fourth)

AFC Under-19 Championship (formerly AFC Youth Championship) Best Finish: 1963, 1972, 1974 (All in Group Stage, 1972 & 1974 as Khmer Republic)

AFF Under-19 Championship Best Finish: 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015-19 (All in Group Stage)

AFF Under-16 Championship Best Finish: 2016 (Fourth)

Cambodia Men’s Club International Successes

AFC President’s Cup (now defunct) Best Finish: 2011 (Runners-up, Phnom Penh Crown)

AFC Cup Best Finish: 2017 & 2018 (ASEAN Zone Group Stage, both times Boeung Ket)