The U20 youth national team at the 2026 Football Federation Cup of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat entered the top five.The wards of Didar Hajyyev and Mekan Nasyrov achieved this success by beating «Kopetdag» in the 5^th place match.

The victory for the «youth team» was not easy. By the middle of the second half, she was losing 0-2 after goals from Arslan Saparov (27^th minute) and Orazgeldi Seyidov (60^th minute).It seemed that «Kopetdag» would easily bring the match to victory.But that was not the case. In the 69th and 75^th minutes, Veyisgeldi Orazdurdyyev scored a double and leveled the score – 2:2. The draw did not change until the end of regular time, and then it was necessary to determine the winner in a penalty shootout.It was won by the players of the youth national team of Turkmenistan with a score of 5:3 and eventually took 5^th place.

In the other play–off match of the game day, the Balkanabat's «Nebichi» won 3-1 against «Merv» and eventually took 7^th place, leaving the Mary team in eighth. The following winners distinguished themselves: Bayramgeldi Nurlyyev (49^th minute), Hydyr Agoyliyev (70^th) and Alibek Abdurahmanov (86^th). «Merv», who finished the game with one man down due to Salim Umarov being sent off in the 82^nd minute, had one goal equalised by Abdyresul Abdyyev (77^th).

There are two games left in the tournament, which is being played at the central arena of the «Ashgabat» multifunctional stadium. The first teams to take to the field in the match for 3^rd place will be «Ahal» and «Ashgabat». Then, in the final of the 2026 Turkmenistan football Federation Cup, «Arkadag» and «Shagadam» will play.

As a reminder, last year, the «Arkadag» footballers won this prestigious trophy, winning a single-round tournament held in the Babarap gengeshlik of the Gokdepe etrap, which featured six major league clubs.