The Cambodia national football team

The Cambodia national football team (Khmer: ក្រុមបាល់ទាត់ជម្រើសជាតិកម្ពុជា, Krom Baltoat Chomreus Cheat Kampuchea) represents Cambodia in international football and is administered by the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC), which is part of the Asian Football Confederation and sub-confederation AFF.

Known as the Khmer Republic national football team from 1970 to 1975, the team finished fourth in the 1972 Asian Cup, which still remains as Cambodia's greatest achievement in an international competition. The team was founded in 1933 and joined FIFA's ranks in 1953.

History

Beginning of an era

Cambodia formed its first national team following the end of French colonization in 1954. Immediately following the end of French colonialism, Cambodia played its first home game against Malaya. The game ended with a 9–2 win for the Malays.

Like most Asian countries at the time, Cambodia did not seek to participate in the FIFA World Cup qualification nor even AFC Asian Cup qualification, as the country was still trying to consolidate its early football development. However, when Lon Nol decided to topple the Cambodian Kingdom and replaced by a Republic, Cambodia finally decided to participate in the 1972 AFC Asian Cup qualification. The Cambodians managed to qualify for the 1972 AFC Asian Cup in its first qualification attempt, a major success up to date. Cambodia managed to win over Hong Kong, which sent the country to Thailand.

In the tournament as Khmer Republic, the Cambodians lost to Iran and had to play in group B along with South Korea and Kuwait. Despite early loss to the South Koreans, they had qualified to the semi-finals thanked for a resounding 4–0 win over Kuwait, only got beaten later by Iran, again, and Thailand, and won the 4th place overall. It remains as Cambodia's greatest achievement in an international tournament.

Following the success, Cambodia could not participate in further tournament, due to the eventual rise of Khmer Rouge.