Turkmenistan Football Spotlight: FC Arkadag crushed FC Goa 3-0 in the AFC Champions League Two preliminary playoff in Turkmenistan, ending the Indian side’s ACL Two run and sending them to the AFC Challenge League; the goals came in a 17-minute second-half burst. Ashgabat Sports & Youth: Turkmenistan is set to host the Kids Expo-Chess Cup 2026 (Aug 19–20) as the first official international rapid and blitz chess tournament in the country, bringing young players from 15+ countries plus visiting chess federations and titled guests. Caspian Cooperation: Turkmenistan marked Caspian Sea Day (Aug 12) with renewed focus on protecting the Caspian ecosystem, highlighting regional cooperation and upcoming high-level talks in Avaza. Regional Economy Snapshot: Central Asia’s combined GDP is estimated at $543B, with Kazakhstan driving more than half, while Turkmenistan is listed at about $50B. Diplomacy & Trade Links: Iran proposed closer transport and transit cooperation with Turkmenbashi port and Iranian Caspian ports, aiming to boost multimodal trade as water levels remain a concern. Healthcare, Education & Sport Expo: Ashgabat will host an international exhibition and scientific conference on Oct 10–12, bringing companies and experts to discuss new technologies and cooperation across the three sectors.