Research on Collaborative Governance Model of the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Championship: Navigating Complexity in a Geopolitically Contested Region

The Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Championship represents a critical platform for football development and regional integration among its six member associations (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and previously Afghanistan). However, the tournament and the federation itself grapple with persistent challenges in performance, infrastructure, governance transparency, and external influence, hindering its potential to foster sustainable football ecosystems. This research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of tournament performance data (2015-2025), financial disclosures, and governance metrics with qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews with 28 key stakeholders (federation officials, club representatives, coaches, referees, and regional sports policymakers) across five CAFA member states. The study critically examines the efficacy of CAFA’s collaborative governance model against theoretical frameworks of polycentric governance, network theory, and institutional isomorphism. Findings reveal a significant governance deficit characterized by fragmented decision-making, weak accountability mechanisms, susceptibility to external geopolitical pressures (particularly from Russia and China), and a persistent gap between formal statutes and operational practices. While CAFA provides a vital convening function, its collaborative model is hampered by asymmetric power dynamics among members, limited institutional capacity, and the prioritization of short-term political objectives over long-term sporting development. The research proposes a reconfigured collaborative governance framework emphasizing institutional autonomy, enhanced transparency protocols, capacity-building partnerships, and context-sensitive adaptation of international best practices. This framework aims to strengthen CAFA’s internal cohesion, bolster its resilience against undue external influence, and ultimately unlock the transformative potential of football for regional development and identity-building in Central Asia. The study contributes novel empirical insights into sports governance in a critically understudied region and offers practical pathways for reforming similar multi-stakeholder sports federations operating within complex geopolitical landscapes.