Sport
ATN delivered unmatched live and exclusive sports coverage through 2025
Throughout the year, ATN brought world-class cricket, football and multi-sport competitions among others directly into Afghan homes, ensuring nationwide free-to-air access to some of the biggest events on the global sporting calendar.
Ariana Television Network (ATN) reinforced its position as Afghanistan’s premier sports broadcaster in 2025, delivering an exceptional year of live and exclusive coverage of major international and domestic sporting events across multiple disciplines.
Throughout the year, ATN brought world-class cricket, football and multi-sport competitions among others directly into Afghan homes, ensuring nationwide free-to-air access to some of the biggest events on the global sporting calendar.
Cricket at the Heart of 2025 Coverage
Cricket remained a cornerstone of ATN’s sports programming. The network held exclusive broadcast rights for the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, delivering more than two months of elite Twenty20 action featuring the world’s top players.
ATN also aired the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, continuing its long-standing partnership with the International Cricket Council and giving Afghan fans access to one of international cricket’s most prestigious tournaments.
Further strengthening its cricket portfolio, ATN exclusively broadcast The Hundred 2025 from England, as well as the DP World International League T20, expanding Afghan viewers’ access to modern franchise cricket formats.
Football and Futsal: Strong domestic and international focus
On the domestic front, ATN once again served as the exclusive broadcaster of the Afghanistan Champions League, producing and airing live matches from the country’s top football competition and supporting the growth of professional football nationwide.
The network also delivered comprehensive coverage of the Afghanistan Futsal Premier League, highlighting the rapid rise of the indoor game and showcasing local talent to a national audience.
International football fans were treated to live coverage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, featuring champion clubs from across the world competing on the global stage.
Multi-Sport Events and Broader Coverage
In one of its most ambitious undertakings of the year, ATN broadcast the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025, providing Afghan viewers with live access to a wide range of sports including athletics, wrestling, weightlifting, taekwondo and team events.
ATN’s sports lineup was further complemented by coverage of additional competitions, including national snooker events and special sporting showcases, reflecting the network’s commitment to sporting diversity.
A year that set a new benchmark
With coverage spanning international mega-events and national leagues alike, ATN’s 2025 sports slate set a new benchmark for free-to-air sports broadcasting in Afghanistan.
Through its extensive terrestrial network and digital platforms, ATN continued to connect millions of viewers with the world’s biggest sporting moments — live, exclusive and accessible to all.
Alongside its live broadcasts, Ariana News and Ariana Television’s digital and social media platforms played a central role in keeping audiences informed throughout the year.
Through real-time updates, breaking sports news, match schedules, highlights and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, ATN ensured viewers remained fully up to date with events as they unfolded and with major competitions on the horizon.
Across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and digital streaming platforms, Ariana’s social media teams delivered timely coverage before, during and after matches — engaging millions of users and extending the reach of live sport beyond television screens.
This integrated approach strengthened audience connection, provided instant access to key moments, and ensured Afghan sports fans never missed important developments, upcoming fixtures or major broadcast announcements.
Looking ahead to 2026, ATN has already secured major broadcast agreements that promise another landmark year for sports fans across Afghanistan.
With exclusive coverage of the Winter Olympic Games, the return of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup all lined up, ATN is set to continue delivering the world’s biggest sporting events live and free to viewers nationwide — reinforcing its position as Afghanistan’s home of world-class sport.
Sport
Qosh Tepa crowned champions of inaugural Afghanistan Wrestling Premier League
Qosh Tepa were crowned champions of the inaugural Afghanistan Wrestling Premier League after defeating Akhawat in Thursday’s championship final in Kabul, bringing the country’s first-ever professional wrestling league to a successful conclusion.
Qosh Tepa’s wrestlers secured more victories across the 10 weight-class contests than their Akhawat counterparts, earning the inaugural league title and lifting the first Afghanistan Wrestling Premier League championship trophy.
The competition featured some of Afghanistan’s top wrestlers representing 10 teams in a season that showcased the country’s growing interest in the sport.
Throughout the tournament, athletes competed in a series of closely contested matches, with the league providing a new platform for both established wrestlers and emerging talent.
The 10 participating teams were:
- Akhawat
- Bala Hissar
- Doosti
- Spin Ghar
- Setareha
- Solh
- Qala Dost
- Fath
- Qosh Tepa
- Kahkashan
The inaugural league attracted enthusiastic crowds throughout the competition, with supporters filling the arena to cheer on their teams. The tournament generated significant interest on social media and highlighted wrestling’s popularity across Afghanistan.
The entire inaugural season was broadcast live and exclusively by Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN) allowing viewers across Afghanistan to follow every match from the opening day through to the championship final.
The league marked the first time a national wrestling competition in Afghanistan had been broadcast live by Ariana Radio and Television Network, representing an important milestone for the sport’s development in the country. Organisers hope the success of the inaugural season will
pave the way for future editions, helping to strengthen wrestling, discover new talent and provide athletes with greater opportunities to compete at a higher level.
Qosh Tepa’s championship victory closes a memorable first season that established a new chapter for Afghan wrestling and set a strong foundation for the continued growth of the league in the years ahead.
Sport
Afghanistan Wrestling Premier League crowns inaugural champion in tonight’s grand final
Fans can watch all the excitement live from 6:00 p.m. Kabul time on Ariana Television, as well as via the Ariana Sport and Ariana News Facebook pages.
The inaugural Afghanistan Wrestling Premier League reaches its thrilling conclusion on Thursday evening, with the championship title set to be decided in what promises to be an action-packed grand final in Kabul.
After more than a week of intense competition featuring some of Afghanistan’s top wrestlers, the league has showcased skill, strength and determination, drawing strong support from fans across the country.
The final is expected to deliver another night of high-quality wrestling as the remaining contenders battle for the inaugural Premier League crown in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
The tournament has played a significant role in promoting wrestling in Afghanistan, providing a professional platform for local athletes to compete at the highest level while inspiring a new generation of wrestlers.
Fans can watch all the excitement live from 6:00 p.m. Kabul time on Ariana Television, as well as via the Ariana Sport and Ariana News Facebook pages.
With the first-ever Afghanistan Wrestling Premier League champion about to be crowned, organisers are expecting a memorable finale to a successful debut season.
Sport
Afghanistan futsal team heads to Thailand for Continental Championship
The Afghanistan national futsal team has departed for Bangkok, Thailand, to compete in the 2026 Continental Futsal Championship.
According to the Afghanistan Football Federation, the tournament will be held from August 1–6 and will feature Afghanistan, Thailand, Russia, Vietnam, and New Zealand.
Afghanistan will kick off its campaign against host nation Thailand on August 2.
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