KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Riders from different Afghan provinces compete in the final of Afghanistan’s annual buzkashi tournament on the outskirts of Kabul, as spectators, including Taliban authorities, attend the event.
Buzkashi is a traditional equestrian sport in which riders score points by carrying a goat carcass — nowadays replaced by a fake goat carcass — across a goal.
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Riders from the Sar-e-Pul and Badakhshan teams compete in the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Afghan men attend the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders compete to score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Riders from the Sar-e-Pul and Badakhshan compete in the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Riders from the Sar-e-Pul and Badakhshan teams compete in the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Afghan men and boys attend the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders compete to score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Riders from the Sar-e-Pul and Badakhshan teams compete in the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Taliban authorities attend the final match of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders compete to score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Afghan men cheer as they attend the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders compete to score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Riders from the Sar-e-Pul and Badakhshan teams enter the field to compete in the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Riders from the Sar-e-Pul and Badakhshan compete in the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Riders from the Sar-e-Pul and Badakhshan teams compete in the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Afghan men attend the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders compete to score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Riders from the Sar-e-Pul and Badakhshan compete in the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Riders from the Sar-e-Pul and Badakhshan teams compete in the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Afghan men and boys attend the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders compete to score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Riders from the Sar-e-Pul and Badakhshan teams compete in the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Taliban authorities attend the final match of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders compete to score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Afghan men cheer as they attend the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders compete to score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Riders from the Sar-e-Pul and Badakhshan teams enter the field to compete in the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Riders from the Sar-e-Pul and Badakhshan compete in the final of Afghanistan's annual buzkashi tournament, a traditional equestrian sport in which riders score points using a fake goat carcass, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
