The coaching staff of the national football team of Turkmenistan headed by Mergen Orazov summoned 23 players to the team’s September gathering, including three legionnaires – Ruslan Mingazov (“Kitchee”, Hong Kong), Teymur Charyev (“Abdysh-Ata”, Kyrgyzstan) and Vepa Jumayev (“Energetik-BGU”, Belarus), the press service of the national team said.

In addition to the above-mentioned legionnaires, goalkeepers received invitations to play for the national team: Rasul Charyev (“Arkadag”), Batyr Babayev (“Altyn asyr”).

Defenders: Ata Geldiyev, Shohrat Soyunov (both “Ahal”), Guychmurad Annakuliyev, Mekan Saparov, Abdy Bashimov, Ibraim Mammedov (all “Arkadag”), Hoshgeldy Hojovov (“Altyn asyr”).

Midfielders: Ahmed Atayev “Altyn asyr”, Ilya Tamurkin, Velmurad Ballakov, Begmurad Bayov (all – “Arkadag”), Dovran Hojamammedov, Alibek Abdyrahmanov, Elman Tagayev (all – “Ahal”).

Forwards: Shanazar Tirkishov (“Arkadag”), Murad Annayev, Selim Nurmuradov (both – “Altyn asyr”), Yazgylych Gurbanov (“Ahal”).

In September, the national team of Turkmenistan will play two friendly matches. September 8 in the city of Surabaya against Indonesia and September 12 in Dubai - against the Bahrain team.

It is important to emphasize that these training camps and friendly matches will become an important part of the preparation of the national team of Turkmenistan for the qualifying matches of the 2026 World Cup.

Let us remind that the qualifying tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Asia will be held from October 2023 to November 2025 and will determine the participants of the World Cup from the AFC. The first two rounds will also be part of the Asian Cup 2027 qualifying tournament.

The rivals of the national team of Turkmenistan in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifying tournament in group “E” will be the teams of Iran and Uzbekistan, as well as the winner of the pair of the first qualifying round Hong Kong – Bhutan.