Football is probably the most popular sport in Cambodia among some local favorites such as boxing, volleyball and traditional martial arts. The sport often brings in huge crowds to stadiums, especially in national team matches. Professional football in the country is controlled by the Football Federation of Cambodia(FFC) and it has two main competitions, Metfone Cambodian League and the Hun Sen Cup.
Metfone Cambodian League edit
The Cambodian League or Metfone Cambodian League (for sponsorship reasons) is the top division of Cambodian football, it started in 1982 and it operates on a promotion and relegation system with the Cambodian Second Division or Cambodian Second League. The team that wins the league gets to participate in the Toyota Mekong Club Championship and the prestigious AFC Cup. The most successful club in the league's history is Phnom Penh Crown FC. The current 2018 Cambodian League season is the 34th season of its existence. Last season saw Boeungket FC lift the league trophy for the second season running and for the third time in the club's history with the club's top scorer Maycon Calijuri scoring 23 goals in 22 appearances. But despite his goal scoring form, it was Ugandan born Atuheire Kipson who ran away with the golden-boot after scoring 28 goals for Nagaworld FC.
2018 teams edit
- Phnom Penh Crown FC
- Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC
- Boeungket FC
- Angkor Tiger FC
- National Defense Ministry FC
- National Police Commissary FC
- Western Phnom Penh FC
- Asia Euro United
- Soltilo Angkor FC
- Visakha FC
Hun Sen Cup edit
The Hun Sen Cup is the biggest knock-out competition in Cambodia. Named after Cambodia's prime minister Hun Sen it's full name is "Akka Moha Sena Padey Decho Hun Sen Cup". The rule that seperates it from other cup competitions such as the CNCC Charity Cup is that only local players are allowed to participate. 28 teams from cities and provinces across the country including amateur and semi-professional teams participate in this competition through two stages, the group stage and the knockout round. 16 teams that make it past the group stage move on to the knock out stage where teams fight it out until the final that will be held at the National Olympic Stadium. Last season's winner was PKR Svay Rieng FC who extends their cup winning record to 4 which is a national record, and top-scorer was Khoun Laboravy of Boeungket FC.