Northern Cyprus national football team
Men's association football team
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The Northern Cyprus national football team (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs Millî Futbol Takımı) represents Northern Cyprus, a de facto country, in association football. They were a member of the New Football Federations-Board for non-FIFA-affiliated nations, until its dissolution in 2013. Northern Cyprus' home stadium is Nicosia Atatürk Stadium in North Nicosia and their head coach is Fırat Canova. They are the current FIFI Wild Cup champions, having won the event in Germany in June 2006. They are also the current ELF Cup champions, having won the event at home in November 2006.
| |||
| Association | Cyprus Turkish Football Association (CTFA) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Confederation | [none] | ||
| Head coach | Caner Oshan[1] | ||
| Most caps | Serkan Önet (25) | ||
| Top scorer | Halil Turan (18) | ||
| Home stadium | Nicosia Atatürk Stadium | ||
| FIFA code | NCY (*Non-FIFA member) | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
 Turkish Cypriots 0–5 Turkey (1962) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
 Northern Cyprus 4–0 Turkmenistan  (Arbil, Iraq; 4 September 2014) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| Turkish Cypriots 0–5 Turkey (1962) Turkey 5–0 Turkish Cypriots (İzmir, Turkey; 28 September 1980) | |||
| CONIFA World Football Cup | |||
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2016) | ||
| Best result | Runners-up (2018) | ||
| CONIFA European Football Cup | |||
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2017) | ||
| Best result | Champions (2026) | ||
| Website | ktff.org | ||
Due to an ongoing sports embargo against Northern Cyprus, the team cannot play international matches with FIFA members.
History
Origins (1955–1962)
The Cyprus Turkish Football Federation (Turkish: Kıbrıs Türk Futbol Federasyonu, KTFF) was formed as early as 1955 – a consequence of Turkish Cypriot clubs withdrawing from playing in Cypriot sport competitions. Turkish Cypriots first played with a representative national side in 1962, against Turkey. This was before the 1974 war which caused the de facto partition of Cyprus and – as such – participating players were Turkish speakers from all over Cyprus.
Islamic Games (1980)
Despite not being considered an independent country, Northern Cyprus played in the 1980 Islamic Games football tournament, which was held in İzmir, Turkey. They suffered a 5–0 defeat against Turkey, their worst to date. Other results were a 2–0 loss against Saudi Arabia, 2–1 victory against Malaysia, and a 1–1 tie with Libya.
Reportedly, these matches were tolerated by FIFA as a result of an agreement with then-FIFA General Secretary Helmut Käser. After Northern Cyprus declared itself independent in 1983, this deal came to an end, leaving the Northern Cypriot team unable to play against FIFA-affiliated countries.[2][3]
After the foundation of TRNC (1983–2004)
After the foundation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983, the KTFF hosted Sport Games Football Federation in 1999, winning the event.
NF-Board (2004–2013)
KTFF joined the NF-Board in 2004, expanding the horizons of the national team. KTFF hosted the KTFF 50th Anniversary Cup in 2005, winning the event. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus won the first NF-Board tournament, the FIFI Wild Cup, in Hamburg, Germany in June 2006 after defeating Zanzibar 4–1 on penalties after a goalless draw. KTFF was set to host the VIVA World Cup during November 2006, however due to issues between the sides the KTFF chose to host its own tournament, the ELF Cup at that time. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus opened the tournament against Crimea, winning 5–0, beating their previous 'largest win' record of 6–2 against Sápmi. Soon after the opener, they beat the new record with a 10–0 victory against Tibet.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus defeated Crimea 3–1 in the ELF Cup finals to lift their second NF-Board cup in the same year. On the 9th of January, Northern Cyprus was chosen to participate in the 2016 ConIFA World Football Cup
CONIFA (2013–present)
Tournament history
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have taken part in five international tournaments and won four. KTFF 50th Anniversary Cup, organised to celebrate 50 years of the KTFF, involved national teams from Kosovo and the Sápmi region of northern Scandinavia, and was won by the hosts with maximum points. NF-Board invited Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to take part in the first FIFI Wild Cup, held in Hamburg, Germany. This also featured teams from Greenland, Tibet, Gibraltar, Zanzibar, and a team representing "The Republic of St. Pauli", amateur players drawn from the St Pauli district of Hamburg. TRNC defeated Zanzibar on penalties in the final after a goalless draw to lift the trophy. KTFF hosted and won the ELF Cup beating in the final Crimea, in 2006. In 1999 hosted and won the Sport Games Football Association. The only one tournament lost is the 1980 Islamic Games in Turkey, where they lost 2 matches on 4. the team will compete at the 2016 ConIFA World Football Cup
FIFI Wild Cup record
- Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
ELF Cup record
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 2 | Taşkıran (6 goals), Çakır (5 goals), Uçaner (3 goals), Çukurovalı (3 goals), Kolcu (2 goals), Selden (2 goals), Ulusoy (2 goals), Arıkbuka (1 goal), Kansu (1 goal), Keleşzade (1 goal), Sapsızoğlu (1 goal), Rizvan Abıltarov (o.g.) |
| Total | 1/1 | 1st | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 2 | Top scorer: Ertaç Taşkıran (6 goals) |
Competitions record
Islamic Games
| Year | Position | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tournament İzmir | |||||||
| 1980 | 4th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| Total | Best: 4th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
Northern Cyprus tournament
| Year | Position | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KTFF 50th Anniversary Cup | |||||||
| 2005 | 1st | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| ELF Cup | |||||||
| 2006 | 1st | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 2 |
| Total | Best: 1st | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 4 |
World Cup record
| Year | Position | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIFI Wild Cup | |||||||
| FC St. Pauli 2006 | 1st | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| VIVA World Cup | |||||||
 2006 | did not enter | ||||||
 2008 | |||||||
 2009 | |||||||
 2010 | |||||||
 2012 | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 4 |
| ConIFA World Football Cup | |||||||
| 2014 | did not enter | ||||||
 2016 | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 4 |
 2018 | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 6 |
 2020 | did not enter | ||||||
| Total | Best: 1st | 19 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 54 | 15 |
European Cup record
Players
Current squad
The following 23 players were called up for the 2026 CONIFA European Football Cup, to be played in Verano Brianza, Italy from 2 to 6 June 2026.[4]
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Dursun Cem Ateş | 29 October 1998 | Doğan Türk Birliği | |||
| GK | İrfan Özbay | 27 February 1988 | Lefke | |||
| GK | Kemal Bağbal | 3 September 1994 | Gençlik Gücü | |||
| DF | Abdullah Çomunoğlu | 5 March 2004 | Alsancak Yeşilova | |||
| DF | Batuhan Calban | 9 September 1999 | 1 | Çetinkaya | ||
| DF | Emre Kuvvetlişahin | 31 March 1999 | Mağusa Türk Gücü | |||
| DF | Olcay Mahmut Aykut | 11 June 1999 | 1 | Dumlupınar | ||
| DF | Sena Develioğlu | 21 September 1999 | Küçük Kaymaklı | |||
| DF | Ünal Kaya | 6 June 2000 | 8 | 1 | Yatağanspor | |
| DF | Zihni Temelci | 11 January 1999 | Muğlaspor | |||
| MF | Ada Osman Esseler | 20 November 2003 | 1 | Çankaya | ||
| MF | Erhun Aksel Öztümer (captain) | 29 May 1991 | 4 | Doğan Türk Birliği | ||
| MF | Mert Sezer | 25 February 2005 | 1 | Mağusa Türk Gücü | ||
| MF | Mustafa Sakalli | 9 August 1993 | Yedidalga | |||
| MF | Mustafa Salk | 24 September 1999 | Doğan Türk Birliği | |||
| MF | Sercan Demirman | 9 July 1990 | Cihangir | |||
| FW | Arif Uysal | 27 April 1996 | Gençlik Gücü | |||
| FW | Hüseyin Arifoğlu | 6 February 2007 | Yenicami Ağdelen | |||
| FW | Kenan Oshan | 27 December 1995 | 14 | 5 | Doğan Türk Birliği | |
| FW | Mert Güçlücan | 4 March 2002 | 2 | Dumlupınar | ||
| FW | Şenol Şöför | 16 November 1994 | 3 | Mağusa Türk Gücü | ||
| FW | Tahsin Özler | 28 January 2006 | Malatya Yeşilyurtspor | |||
| FW | Uğur Naci Gök | 22 October 1990 | 15 | 5 | Cihangir | |
Honours
Non-FIFA competitions
- FIFI Wild Cup
Champions (1): 2006
- Viva World Cup
Runners-up (1): 2012
- CONIFA World Football Cup
- CONIFA European Football Cup
- ELF Cup
- Champions (1): 2006
