The East Turkistan Football Association is poised to make a historic debut at the upcoming CONIFA Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to take place from July 1 to July 4 in London.
The East Turkistan Football Association (ETFA) — representing East Turkistan diaspora communities across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia — is poised to make a historic debut at the upcoming CONIFA Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to take place from July 1 to July 4 at Elmbridge Xcel Sports Hub in Walton-on-Thames, London.
Founded in 2019 as the first national football governing body for East Turkistan since 1949, ETFA organizes domestic leagues, oversees its men’s, women’s, and youth national teams, and runs the annual ETFA Freedom Cup. The association is headquartered in Amsterdam, with three chairpersons based in the United States, the Netherlands, and Norway.
What is CONIFA — and What Is the Asia Cup?
CONIFA (Confederation of Independent Football Associations) is a global football federation for teams not affiliated with FIFA, including unrecognized nations, stateless peoples, minorities, and autonomous regions.
The CONIFA Asia Cup is the continental championship for Asian CONIFA members and serves both as a regional competition and a qualifier for the next CONIFA World Football Cup.
Tournament Details
The CONIFA Asia Cup 2025 will feature three national teams: Tamil Eelam, Tibet, and East Turkistan. According to the official schedule, the tournament will open on Tuesday, July 1 with an opening ceremony from 16:00 to 17:00, followed by the first match between Tamil Eelam and Tibet at 17:30. On Wednesday, July 2, East Turkistan will face Tamil Eelam at 14:30, and on Thursday, July 3, Tibet will play against East Turkistan at 14:30.
The competition will conclude on Friday, July 4 with the final match at 17:30, followed by a closing ceremony from 20:00 to 21:00. All matches will be held at the Elmbridge Xcel Sports Hub in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (KT12 2JP).
“team enjoys the support of all of us”
Senior Uyghur activist and founding president of the Ilham Tohti Initiative, Enver Can, spoke to Uyghur News, emphasizing the significance of Uyghurs’ participation in the tournament: “For the diaspora Uyghur youth, attendance in this international soccer tournament is not only a sporting activity; it is also a source of hope, inspiration, and a joyful encounter. The Uyghur national team enjoys the support of all of us.”
The Significance of CONIFA and ETFA’s Goals
Elshat Eslam, the head coach of the East Turkistan Football Association (ETFA), highlighted the broader significance of the tournament, stating: “CONIFA plays a vital role in giving us — teams like East Turkistan — the opportunity to perform on the international stage. Especially this year, as we compete in London, we are truly grateful.“
He added, “We, as East Turkistan FA, will do our best not only to win but also to enjoy this moment with other nations. The value CONIFA brings to the world is immense — it gives hope, visibility, and voice to stateless peoples like the Uyghurs and Tibetans.”
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