Mongolia national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Mongolia women's national football team.

The Mongolia national football team^[c] represents Mongolia in international football and is controlled by the Mongolian Football Federation.

Mongolia

Nickname(s)	Blue Wolves[a] Genghis Khan[b]
Association	Mongolian Football Federation (Монголын Хөлбөмбөгийн Холбоо)
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation	EAFF
Head coach	Bayasgalangiin Garidmagnai
Captain	Tsend-Ayuush Khürelbaatar
Most caps	Tsend-Ayuush Khürelbaatar (45)
Top scorer	Nyam-Osor Naranbold (9)[1]
Home stadium	MFF Football Centre
FIFA code	MNG
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	187 1 (3 April 2025)[2]
Highest	160 (August 2011)
Lowest	205 (July 2015)
First international
North Vietnam 3–1 Mongolia  (Hanoi, North Vietnam; 3 October 1960)
Biggest win
Mongolia 9–0 Northern Mariana Islands  (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; 4 September 2018)
Biggest defeat
Uzbekistan 15–0 Mongolia  (Chiang Mai, Thailand; 5 December 1998)
AFC Solidarity Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2016)
Best result	Group stage (2016)
EAFF E-1 Football Championship
Appearances	7 (first in 2003)
Best result	7th (2019)
Asian Games
Appearances	1 (first in 1998)
Best result	Group stage (1998)

Founded in 1959, the association was inactive between 1960 and 1998 when the team did not feature in any international fixtures. The Mongolian Football Federation is a member of the Asian Football Confederation and the East Asian Football Federation. The team has never participated in the FIFA World Cup, and the only major international tournaments the team has taken part in are the 1998 Asian Games and 2016 AFC Solidarity Cup, not progressing past the group stage in either competition.

History

Mongolia's first international fixture was a 12–0 loss to Japan during a match in Manchukuo in 1942. Between 1960 and 1998, the Mongolia team played no international matches before being accepted as a FIFA member in 1998.^[3] Mongolia's first competitive matches were in the 1998 Asian Games qualifiers where they were heavily defeated by Kuwait 11–0, and by Uzbekistan 15–0.

They entered qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but lost their opening five matches before drawing 2–2 with Bangladesh, securing a single point. In the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Mongolia was drawn against the Maldives and though they remained competitive after the first leg, only losing 1–0 at home, they were crushed in the second leg in Malé 12–0 and eliminated. In the first round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Mongolia was beaten 9–2 on aggregate by North Korea, and four years later in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Mongolia lost to Myanmar 2–1. Mongolia then lost in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers to Timor-Leste; however, they were later awarded two 3–0 victories as Timor-Leste had fielded numerous ineligible players. This came after the second round matches had been played; therefore, Mongolia did not advance in the competition.^[4]

According to the voting outcome at the AFC Congress held in January 2011, the Mongolian Football Federation was suspended to conduct any activities at the EAFF until the EAFF Ordinary Congress of March 2014.^[5] They were welcomed back to the federation at the 7th Ordinary Congress and 41st and 42nd Executive Committee Meeting of the EAFF.^[6]

For Mongolia, their next tournament was the 2016 AFC Solidarity Cup, a tournament for the confederation's lowest ranked teams who have limited opportunities to arrange friendly matches, in November 2016. The tournament would replace the defunct AFC Challenge Cup.^[7] Being drawn in Group B alongside Sri Lanka, Macau, and Laos,^[8] Mongolia finished third in the group with a loss to Laos in the final match-day ending their chances of qualifying through to the semi-finals.^[9]

Mongolia then hosted their first international with the EAFF Annual Meeting advising that Mongolia would host the Round 1 of qualification for the East Asian Football Championship^[10] After comfortable wins in its first two matches, Mongolia needed only a single point against Guam on the final matchday to secure a place in the second round of the tournament for the first time ever.^[11] After a scoreless first half, Guam took the lead in the 89th minute. However, in the fourth minute of stoppage time a Norjmoo Tsedenbal strike rescued a point for Mongolia which was enough for the team to earn the top spot in the group and advance.^[12] Mongolia's 9–0 result over the Northern Mariana Islands set the current team record for largest margin of victory^[13]

Mongolia succeeded in qualifying past the first round for the first time in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers by beating Brunei 3–2 over two legs.^[14] In the second round, following a 14–0 defeat to Japan on 30 March 2021, they let head coach Rastislav Božik go and hired Shuichi Mase as their new head coach. In their next game on 7 June, Mongolia managed to shock Kyrgyzstan 1–0 for their first ever win against a Central Asian and a top-100 ranked opponent in a FIFA qualifier.^[15] This win meant that the national team competed in 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifying in the third-round where they only would get the one win against Yemen. In March 2023, Mongolia recorded its highest-ever FIFA ranking of 183rd.

Team image

The National Sports Stadium was Mongolia's home stadium until the MFF Football Centre was constructed.^[16]

Nicknames

The Mongolian national team is often nicknamed the Blue Wolves. The blue wolf is a symbol of Turkic and Mongolian people, and originates from the Mongolian legend of the blue wolf. The team has also been known as the "Shegshee", which translates as "national team" in Mongolian.^[17]

Kits and crest

Currently, the Mongolian national football team uses an all-white uniform as their first colours, and a blue uniform as their second colours. In August 2021 it was announced that Mongolian sportswear company TG Sport had signed a two-year deal with the Mongolian Football Federation to provide kits for all Mongolian national teams.^[18]

Kelme is currently the official jerseys sponsor for the team from 2023

Home stadium

Mongolia plays their home matches at the MFF Football Centre, a 5,000 capacity stadium in Ulaanbaatar. The stadium boasts an artificial playing surface.^[19]

Results and fixtures

Main article: Mongolia national football team results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2024

Azerbaijan  v  Mongolia

22 March 2024 (2024-03-22) 2024 FIFA World Series	Azerbaijan	1–0	Mongolia	Baku, Azerbaijan
20:00 UTC+4	Mustafazadə 90+1'	Report		Stadium: Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium Referee: Zorbay Küçük (Turkey)

Tanzania  v  Mongolia

25 March 2024 (2024-03-25) 2024 FIFA World Series	Tanzania	3–0	Mongolia	Baku, Azerbaijan
17:00 UTC+4	John 49' Sopu 62' Miroshi 76'	Report		Stadium: Dalga Arena Attendance: 146 Referee: Elçin Məsiyev (Azerbaijan)

Cambodia  v  Mongolia

7 June Friendly	Cambodia	2–0	Mongolia	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
18:30 UTC+7	Yudai 22' Ty 30'	Report		Stadium: Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium Attendance: 15,266 Referee: Warinthon Sassadee (Thailand)

Mongolia  v  Cambodia

11 June Friendly	Mongolia	2–1	Cambodia	Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
17:00 UTC+8	Naranbold 53' Gantogtokh Gantuya 61'	Report	Ty 17'	Stadium: MFF Football Centre Referee: Tam Ping Wun (Hong Kong)

Timor-Leste  v  Mongolia

5 September 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification – play-off round	Timor-Leste	4–1	Mongolia	Gianyar, Indonesia
10:30	João Pedro 3', 27', 52' Zenivio 58'	Report	Oyunbaataryn 34'	Stadium: Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium Attendance: 108 Referee: Daniel Elder (Australia)

Mongolia  v  Timor-Leste

10 September 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification – play-off round	Mongolia	2–0 (3-4 agg.)	Timor-Leste	Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
16:00	Dölgöön 8' Törbat 54'	Report		Stadium: MFF Football Centre

Mongolia  v  Hong Kong

8 December 2025 EAFF E-1 Preliminary	Mongolia	0–3	Hong Kong	Mong Kok, Hong Kong
18:00 UTC+8		Report	Everton 24' Wong Wai 35' Benavides 60'	Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 3,329 Referee: Wiwat Jumpaoon (Thailand)

Chinese Taipei  v  Mongolia

11 December 2025 EAFF E-1 Preliminary	Chinese Taipei	4–0	Mongolia	Mong Kok, Hong Kong
20:00 UTC+8	Kouamé 42', 83' Estama 59' Yu Yao-hsing 76'	Report		Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 892 Referee: Du Jianxin (China)

Coaching staff

Bayasgalangiin Garidmagnai played for the national football team of Mongolia before he became the manager of the team in 2024

As of September 2021

Position	Name
Team Manager	Pürevdorjyn Erdenebat
Head Coach	Bayasgalangiin Garidmagnai
Assistant coach	Sükhnaagiin Otgonbayar Zorigtyn Battulga Tserenjavyn Enkhjargal
Goalkeeper coach	Dorjmoogiin Ganbold
Team Doctor	Samatyn Bakhtiyar
Physiotherapist	Khürelbaataryn Tsakhia
Media Officer	Mönkh-Erdeniin Khaltmaa

Coaching statistics

Name	Nat	Period	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	Win %
Pavel Sevastyanov		1958–1960	3	0	0	3	0%
none		1961–1992 1994–1997	National football team does not exist
Lkhamsürengiin Dorjsüren		1993, 1998[20]	2	0	0	2	0%
Luvsandorjiin Sandagdorj		February 1999 – January 2000	0	0	0	0	0%
Ishdorjiin Otgonbayar		January 2000 – January 2011	31	7	4	21	17%
Sandagdorjiin Erdenebat		January 2011 – July 2014	4	2	0	2	50%
Vojislav Bralušić		July 2014 – January 2015	3	1	0	2	33.3%
Sanjmyataviin Purevsukh		January 2015 – 2016	5	1	1	3	20%
Zorigtyn Battulga[21]		May 2016	3	1	1	1	33%
Toshiaki Imai[22]		October 2016 – January 2017	3	1	0	2	33.3%
Michael Weiß[23]		March 2017 – 24 January 2020	12	5	3	11	26.3%
Vojislav Bralušić (interim)[24]		27 January 2020 – 18 September 2020	0	0	0	0	0.0%
Rastislav Božik[25]		18 September 2020 – 8 April 2021	0	0	0	2	0.0%
Shuichi Mase		8 April 2021–17 December 2021[26][27]	1	1	0	0	100.0%
Otsuka Ichiro		17 December 2021–26 August 2024[27][28]	16	2	2	12	12.50%
Bayasgalangiin Garidmagnai		28 August 2024–present[29]	0	0	0	0	0%

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship preliminary matches against Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei on 8 and 11 December 2024.^[30]

Caps and goals are correct as of 11 Decemember 2024, after the match against Chinese Taipei.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Gan-Erdene Enkh-Erdene	(2003-08-12) 12 August 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Khoromkhon
	1GK	Tsenguun Khandaa	(2002-11-25) 25 November 2002 (age 22)	2	0	SP Falcons
	2DF	Mönkh-Orgil Orkhon	(1999-01-30) 30 January 1999 (age 26)	28	1	Ulaanbaatar
	2DF	Uuganbat Bat-Erdene	(1997-02-09) 9 February 1997 (age 28)	12	0	Deren
	2DF	Filip Chinzorig	(2003-02-13) 13 February 2003 (age 22)	9	0	Loyola
	2DF	Tuguldur Batsukh	(2004-01-17) 17 January 2004 (age 21)	0	0	Khoromkhon
	2DF	Taivankhuu Khürelbaatar	(1997-02-16) 16 February 1997 (age 28)	0	0	Hunters
	2DF	Munkhkhuslen Munkhsaikhan	(2002-01-11) 11 January 2002 (age 23)	1	0	Deren
	2DF	Enkh-Orgil Otgonbaatar	(1998-04-26) 26 April 1998 (age 27)	2	0	SP Falcons
	2DF	Otgontsagaan Saikhanbayar	(2001-03-06) 6 March 2001 (age 24)	0	0	SP Falcons
	3MF	Tsend-Ayuush Khürelbaatar	(1990-02-22) 22 February 1990 (age 35)	47	1	Tuv Azarganuud
	3MF	Tögöldör Mönkh-Erdengiin	(1991-02-23) 23 February 1991 (age 34)	25	7	SP Falcons
	3MF	Dölgöön Amaraa	(2001-02-20) 20 February 2001 (age 24)	22	2	Deren
	3MF	Amgalanbat Batbaatar	(2001-01-21) 21 January 2001 (age 24)	10	0	Ulaanbaatar
	3MF	Togoo Mönkhbaatar	(1999-11-20) 20 November 1999 (age 25)	6	0	Khoromkhon
	3MF	Tsogtbayar Batbayar	(2001-07-08) 8 July 2001 (age 23)	5	0	ASK Köflach
	3MF	Gan-Erdene Erdenebat	(2005-08-24) 24 August 2005 (age 19)	3	0	Deren
	4FW	Temüülen Zayaat	(2003-12-10) 10 December 2003 (age 21)	2	0	Khangarid
	4FW	Usukh-Ireedui Baatar	(2002-07-15) 15 July 2002 (age 22)	2	0	Deren
	4FW	Sainbuyan Nergui	(2002-09-19) 19 September 2002 (age 22)	2	0	Ulaanbaatar

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Mönkh-Erdene Enkhtaivan	(1995-10-17) 17 October 1995 (age 29)	23	0	Ulaanbaatar	v.  Timor-Leste; 10 September 2024
GK	Ariunbold Batsaikhan	(1990-04-03) 3 April 1990 (age 35)	21	0	Khangarid	v.  Timor-Leste; 10 September 2024
GK	Arvinbat Mendbayar	(2001-01-02) 2 January 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Deren	v.  Cambodia; 11 June 2024
DF	Törböt Daginaa	(1992-07-31) 31 July 1992 (age 32)	28	2	Khoromkhon	v.  Timor-Leste; 10 September 2024
DF	Bat-Orgil Gerelt-Od	(2002-01-23) 23 January 2002 (age 23)	15	0	Ulaanbaatar	v.  Timor-Leste; 10 September 2024
DF	Bayartsengel Purevdorj	(1997-01-26) 26 January 1997 (age 28)	14	0	Khovd	v.  Timor-Leste; 10 September 2024
DF	Dölgöön Tuvshinjargal	(2003-01-17) 17 January 2003 (age 22)	5	0	Deren	v.  Timor-Leste; 10 September 2024
DF	Khashchuluun Naranbaatar	(2004-08-05) 5 August 2004 (age 20)	4	0	Deren	v.  Cambodia; 11 June 2024
DF	Bilgüün Ganbold	(1991-04-12) 12 April 1991 (age 34)	26	0	Khaan Khuns-Erchim	v.  Tanzania, 25 March 2024
MF	Baljinnyam Batmönkh	(1999-12-10) 10 December 1999 (age 25)	11	0	Deren	v.  Timor-Leste; 10 September 2024
MF	Gantogtokh Gantuya	(1995-11-30) 30 November 1995 (age 29)	10	1	Ulaanbaatar	v.  Timor-Leste; 10 September 2024
MF	Tumen-Ulzii Sodbilguun	(2005-07-19) 19 July 2005 (age 19)	2	0	BCH Lions	v.  Timor-Leste; 10 September 2024
MF	Bilgüün Tsetsegmaa	(1995-02-25) 25 February 1995 (age 30)	1	0	Khangarid	v.  Cambodia; 11 June 2024
MF	Uuganbayar Pürevsüren	(2001-10-08) 8 October 2001 (age 23)	7	0	Ulaanbaatar	v.  Tanzania, 25 March 2024
FW	Naranbold Nyam-Osor	(1992-02-22) 22 February 1992 (age 33)	33	9	Deren	v.  Timor-Leste; 10 September 2024
FW	Mijiddorj Oyunbaataryn	(1996-08-22) 22 August 1996 (age 28)	18	2	Ulaanbaatar	v.  Timor-Leste; 10 September 2024
FW	Ganbayar Ganbold	(2000-09-03) 3 September 2000 (age 24)	16	2	KFC Komárno	v.  Timor-Leste; 10 September 2024
FW	Munkh-Erdene Batkhyag	(1991-02-09) 9 February 1991 (age 34)	8	0	Khovd	v.  Timor-Leste; 10 September 2024
FW	Sodmönkh Ankhbayar	(2004-10-07) 7 October 2004 (age 20)	4	0	Brera Ilch	v.  Timor-Leste; 10 September 2024
FW	Temülen Uuganbat	(2005-05-07) 7 May 2005 (age 20)	6	0	Deren	v.  Cambodia; 11 June 2024
FW	Namsrai Baatartsogt	(1998-11-21) 21 November 1998 (age 26)	8	0	SP Falcons	v.  Tanzania, 25 March 2024
Notes INJ = Withdrew due to injury. PRE = Preliminary squad/standby. RET = Retired from the national team. SUS = Serving suspension. WD = Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.

Player records

As of 10 September 2024^[1][31]

Players in bold are still active with Mongolia.

Most appearances

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Tsend-Ayuush Khürelbaatar	45	1	2007–present
2	Garidmagnai Bayasgalan	35	2	2003–2019
	Donorovyn Lümbengarav	35	8	2000–2014
	Norjmoogiin Tsedenbal	35	7	2009–2021
5	Naranbold Nyam-Osor	33	9	2014–present
6	Törböt Daginaa	28	2	2015–present
	Tserenjavyn Enkhjargal	28	0	2000–2016
8	Baljinnyam Batbold	26	4	2018–present
	Davaajav Battör	26	0	2016–2021
	Ganboldyn Bilgüün	26	0	2013–present
	Mönkh-Orgil Orkhon	26	1	2017–present
	Ganbaataryn Tögsbayar	26	6	2003–2015

Top goalscorers

Rank	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Naranbold Nyam-Osor	9	33	0.27	2014–present
2	Donorovyn Lümbengarav	8	35	0.23	2003–2014
3	Tögöldör Mönkh-Erdengiin	7	24	0.29	2013–present
	Norjmoogiin Tsedenbal	7	35	0.2	2009–2021
5	Ganbaataryn Tögsbayar	6	26	0.23	2003–2011
6	Oyuunbatyn Bayarjargal	4	10	0.4	2013–2018
	Davaagiin Bayarzorig	4	19	0.21	2000–2007
	Gankhuyag Serodyanjiv	4	22	0.18	2016–present
	Baljinnyam Batbold	4	26	0.15	2018–present
10	Boldyn Buman-Uchral	3	11	0.27	2000–2005
	Narmandakh Artag	3	19	0.16	2018–present

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup										Qualification
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	F	A		Pld	W	D	L	F	A
1930	Team did not exist									Team did not exist
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962	Not a member of FIFA									Not a member of FIFA
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002	Did not qualify									6	0	1	5	2	22
2006										2	0	0	2	0	13
2010										2	0	0	2	2	9
2014										2	1	0	1	1	2
2018										2	0	0	2	1	5
2022										10	3	0	7	6	29
2026										2	0	0	2	0	2
2030	To be determined									To be determined
2034
Total		0/7	0	0	0	0	0	0	26	4	1	21	12	82

AFC Asian Cup

AFC Asian Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1956 to 1996	Not an AFC member									Not an AFC member
2000	Did not qualify									3	0	0	3	1	10
2004										2	1	1	0	5	0
2007	Did not enter									Did not enter
2011	Did not qualify									AFC Challenge Cup
2015
2019										2	0	0	2	1	5
2023										13	4	0	9	8	31
2027										4	1	0	3	3	6
Total	0 Titles	0/17	0	0	0	0	0	0		24	6	1	17	18	52

AFC Solidarity Cup

AFC Solidarity Cup record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
2016	Group stage	3	1	0	2	3	5
2020	Cancelled
Total	Best: Group stage	3	1	0	2	3	5

AFC Challenge Cup

AFC Challenge Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
2006	Did not participate									Did not participate
2008
2010	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	3	3
2012										2	1	0	1	2	3
2014										3	0	1	2	1	5
Total	0 Titles	0/5	0	0	0	0	0	0		7	2	1	4	6	11

Asian Games

Asian Games record
Year	Result	M	W	D	L	GF	GA
1951-1994	Did not participate
1998	Group stage	2	0	0	2	0	26
2002–present	See Mongolia national under-23 football team
Total	1/13	2	0	0	2	0	26

EAFF E-1 Football Championship

EAFF E-1 Football Championship record										Qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
2003	Did not qualify									4	1	0	3	2	16
2005										4	1	1	2	4	13
2008										2	0	1	1	0	7
2010										3	2	0	1	6	3
2013	Suspended by EAFF									Suspended by EAFF
2015	Did not qualify									3	1	0	2	6	5
2017										3	1	1	1	10	4
2019										6	2	1	3	17	13
2022	Did not participate									Not held
2025	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	0	7
2028	To be determined
2030	To be determined
Total	0 Titles	0/8	0	0	0	0	0	0		19	6	3	10	28	48

Notes

1. Mongolian: Хөх Чононууд, romanized: Khökh Chononuud, pronounced [xɵ́x t͡ɕʰɔnɜnʊ́t]
2. Mongolian: Чингис Хаан, romanized: Chingis Khaan, pronounced [t͡ɕʰíŋkɪs χáːɴ]
3. Mongolian: Монголын хөлбөмбөгийн үндэсний шигшээ баг, romanized: Mongoliin khölbömbögiin ündesnii shigshee bag, pronounced [mɔɴɢɜɬíɴ xɵɬpɵmpʉɣíɴ untɘsní ɕikɕé paq]