WOMEN’S FOOTBALL IN KAZAKHSTAN

Women’s football in the USSR began to develop in the 1970-1980s. Although even then it was still listed among exotic sports, along with golf and martial arts.
In 1974, the regional championship among women’s teams was held for the first time in Aktyubinsk, in which 15 teams took part. The leaders met in the final – both teams from the regional center – «Ilek» and «Ivolga». With a minimal score, the representatives of «Ivolga» became the champion of the region.
In 1988 – The first official participation of the women’s Kazakhstani club team in the All-Union competitions took place. The women’s football club «Pretendent» took part in the II All-Union tournament for the prize of the «Sobesednik» weekly, held in the Kashira town near Moscow.
In the 1989 season, the women’s club “Gracia” (Alma-Ata) participated in the Championship of the All-Union Voluntary Physical Culture and Sports Society of Trade Unions (AUVPCSSTU). At the first stage, the teams of the Siberian-Asian zone played a tournament in 5 rounds (Each team spends one of the rounds at home): «Graiya» (Alma-Ata); «Sibiryachka» (Krasnoyarsk, 25-27.08.1989); «Olymp» (Karaganda); «Tohuchu» (Baku, translated into Russian as «Textile Workers») and «Azalia» (Frunze).
In 1990 – Almaty FC «Merey» becomes the first Kazakh club to take part in the USSR Women’s Championship among major league teams.
1991 – Almaty FC «Merey» in Germany becomes the winner of the International Women’s Tournament, ahead of 33 teams from Germany, Switzerland, Hungary and other countries.
In 1993 – Almaty FC «Merey» becomes the winner of the 1st edition of the Russian Open Championship (among the CIS countries) among women. In the same year, Almaty FC «Merey» became the winner of the 1st edition of the Interethnic Cup among women.
In 1995 – The Kazakhstan women’s national team makes its international debut in the qualifying group of the X Asian Women’s Football Championship.
In 1999 – The Kazakhstan women’s national team took part in the last Asian Championship, finishing third in their group.
On November 7, 1999, the largest victory of the Kazakhstan women’s football team was recorded over the Hong Kong team (score 8:0).
In 2002, the UEFA Congress was held in Stockholm, at which the Football Union of Kazakhstan was admitted to the Union of European Football Associations. As a result, the Kazakhstan women’s national football team began to play matches under the auspices of UEFA.
«Alma-KTZh» – women’s football club from Almaty in 1997-2008. It is considered the most famous club in Kazakh women’s football. Over the years of its existence, it has consistently taken first place in the championship. Moreover, in 2004 he participated in the Russian championship among First league teams and won it. Champion of Kazakhstan (9 times): 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.
In 2003 – the Alma-KTZh women’s football club made its debut in European competition in the 2003/04 UEFA Cup, at the time FC Temir Zholy lost a place in the group to the Croatian club Osijek.
In the 2004/05 UEFA Cup, Alma-KTZh won in group A1 such clubs as Slavia (Prague, Czech Republic), Super Sport (Sofia, Bulgaria) and MSK (Ziar nad Hronom, Slovakia) reached the next stage of the competition.
In the 2005/06 UEFA Cup, Alma-KTZh again wins Group A9. This time the opponents were such clubs as MTK (Bucharest, Romania), FC NSA (Sofia, Bulgaria) and FC AE (Egina, Greece).
In the 2007/08 UEFA Cup, Alma-KTZh in group A9 won such clubs as 1.FC Femina (Bucharest, Romania), FC Narta (Chisinau, Moldova) and Ruslan-93 (Baku, Azerbaijan), reached the next stage of the competition.
In the 2008/09 UEFA Cup, Alma-KTZh in group A6 won the Romanian «CFF Clujana Cluj», the Croatian «Osijek» and «Glentoran” (Belfast, Ireland). Team advanced to the next stage of the competition.
At the end of 2008, the Alma-KTZh women’s football club was bought by a Shymkent entrepreneur, and some of the players moved to Shymkent. These players formed the backbone of BIIK-Kazygurt.
The women’s football club BIIK-Kazygurt was founded in 2009, on the basis of the multiple champion of Kazakhstan – «Alma-KTZh». BIIK-Kazygurt is considered one of the most famous clubs in Kazakhstan women’s football. Champion of Kazakhstan (12 times – record): 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. The owner of the Kazakhstan Cup (13, Record): 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023. Finalist of the International Cup of Russian Railways (Russia, Moscow): 2022.
In 2022, BIIK-Kazygurt was renamed to WFC «BIIK-Shymkent». The history of the development of modern Shymkent is inextricably linked with the football complex, called «BIIK» and which is the hallmark of the city. With the formation of a football center in the city, women’s football developed. Thanks to the results achieved, it has turned into a cult sport that girls from all over Kazakhstan come to practice. Currently, the center has become the base for training the national teams of Kazakhstan in women’s football.
In 2019 – «BIIK-Kazygurt» became the winner of the international tournament «Jizzakh Women’s Cup-2019», which was held in the Uzbek city of Jizzakh. Five teams took part in the tournament: Kazakh «BIIK-Kazygurt», the youth team of Kyrgyzstan U-19, two clubs from Uzbekistan – «AGMK-Women» and «Sogdiana-W», as well as the women’s national team of Uzbekistan. «BIIK-Kazygurt» won all the matches played.»
In March-October of 2022 – The Kazakhstan Football Federation, together with the National Scientific and Practical Center for Physical Culture of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, holds the football festival «Menin Oyinym» for girls. The main goal of such an action is to popularize women’s football in Kazakhstan.
October 2022 – the Euro 2022/23 qualifying tournament among U-19 women’s teams was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The U-19 women’s team played in Group 7 of League B against the Czech Republic and Andorra.
November 2022 – The Executive Committee of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) established the UEFA Women’s Nations League, the competition will become a qualifying tournament for the Olympics, and will also influence qualification for the European Championship and the World Cup.
In 2023 – The Kazakhstan Football Federation, together with UEFA, launches the innovative project UEFA Playmakers in collaboration with Disney. The UEFA Playmakers project aims to inspire girls aged from 5 to 8 who have never played before to take up football.
From 2009 to 2023 – The Kazakhstan U-17 women’s football team is a permanent participant in the qualifying tournaments for the European Football Championship.
From 2005 to 2023 – The Kazakhstan U-19 women’s football team is a permanent participant in the qualifying tournaments for the European Football Championship.
From 2005 to 2023 – the Kazakhstan women’s national football team is a permanent participant in the qualifying tournaments for the European Championship and the World Football Championship.