The Afghanistan national football team represents Afghanistan in international football and is governed by the Afghanistan Football Federation. Football has been played in Afghanistan since the mid-twentieth century, though the team's development has been repeatedly disrupted by decades of conflict and political instability that defined much of the country's modern history. The federation is a member of both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation, meaning Afghanistan competes in AFC qualifying rounds for the FIFA World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup.
The team has operated for much of its history on the fringes of Asian football, competing in qualification campaigns without yet reaching a major continental or global finals tournament. Progress has nonetheless been made in building domestic football infrastructure, and the national side has served as a focal point for Afghan identity and unity during difficult periods for the country.
Afghanistan's competitive calendar is centered on FIFA World Cup qualification and AFC Asian Cup qualification. The team trains and plays under significant logistical constraints, and home fixtures have at times been staged in neutral venues due to security conditions inside the country. Despite these challenges, the federation has continued to field a national side and develop the game at youth and senior levels, representing a community of players drawn both from within Afghanistan and from the Afghan diaspora worldwide.