On 11 February 2026, as part of the AFC Champions League Two Round of 16, an international football match between Turkmenistan’s “Arkadag” FC and Saudi Arabia’s “Al-Nassr” FC will take place at the Olympic Stadium in Ashgabat. The match is expected to be a landmark event in the country’s sporting calendar.
Extensive preparations are being carried out to ensure the event is held at a high organizational level and to provide favorable conditions for international guests, delegations, referees, athletes, and spectators. In this regard, 500 volunteer students from the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Education and Sports have been selected.
In addition, a specialized group of 15 volunteers fluent in foreign languages has been formed to support international guests and football teams. A volunteer media team consisting of 15 students specializing in sports journalism has also been established. Overall coordination of volunteer activities has been entrusted to 50 faculty members of the institute.
Special training sessions for volunteers were conducted from 13 to 22 January 2026. During the training, volunteers were provided with comprehensive knowledge on volunteer ethics, effective communication with spectators, service culture, safety regulations, emergency response procedures, and international sports protocols.
Currently, organizational efforts to host the AFC Champions League Two match at a high standard are continuing in cooperation with the State Committee of Turkmenistan for Physical Culture and Sports and the Football Federation of Turkmenistan.
Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports
