Afghanistan wins 1st international soccer title -- Afghans began playing soccer about 90 years ago, and the country's national federation was founded in 1922. Afghanistan joined FIFA in 1948. --- From the 1950s through the '70s, soccer gained a strong following in the country, but it nearly disappeared during the 10-year Soviet occupation from 1979-89 and the civil war that followed from 1992-96.- Associated Press