Shan United Football Club (, ) is a professional football club based in Taunggyi, Myanmar, representing the Shan State in the Myanmar National League. It had previously competed as an amateur club under the name Kanbawza, based in Yangon. The club had won 6 league titles (including one unbeaten title), 1 General Aung San Shield, 2 MNL Cups and 3 MFF Charity Cups. The club did not lose a single match in their 2022 season, winning 15 and drawing 3 times.
Kanbawza was founded in 2003, played as an amateur club in the Myanmar Premier League, the highest football league in Myanmar at the time. The club won the 2007 Myanmar Premier League title and participated in the AFC President's Cup 2008. Kanbawza was a founding member of the Myanmar National League, which succeeded the Myanmar Premier League in 2009. In the process, the club changed its status from amateur to professional, and changed its home base from Yangon to Taunggyi. In its first-ever professional match, Kanbawza won by 3 goals over Okktha United. Kanbawza finished fourth in the league's inaugural cup competition, the Myanmar National League Cup 2009. In February 2010, Khin Maung Kyaing took control as chief executive officer. In 2012, it finished as league runners-up.
In 2015, Kanbawza changed its name to Shan United. The club went on to win their first professional piece of silverware, winning both the 2017 Myanmar National League title and the 2017 General Aung San Shield, thus qualifying for the 2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs. They played against CeresâÂÂNegros of Philippines but lost and bowed down to the 2018 AFC Cup group stage, finishing last. However, the club managed to get their first win in the 2018 edition winning 2âÂÂ1 against Cambodian club Boeung Ket Angkor. Shan United went on to become back to back league champions in 2019 and 2020, winning the 2019 and 2020 MFF Charity Cup. Shan United went on to win the 2022 Myanmar National League undefeated, qualifying to the 2023âÂÂ24 AFC Cup.
In 2024, Shan United qualified to the inaugural 2024âÂÂ25 AFC Challenge League and also the revived 2024âÂÂ25 ASEAN Club Championship. They won over Bruneian club Kasuka 4âÂÂ2 on aggregate to qualify for the group stage, being placed alongside Indonesian PSM Makassar, Vietnamese ÃÂông àThanh Hóa, Malaysian Terengganu, Cambodian Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng and Thailand BG Pathum United. Shan United and ÃÂông àThanh Hóa played the opening match of the tournament at the Thanh Hóa Stadium. Moussa Bakayoko scored the first goal of the tournament in the fifth minute, however Shan United went on to lose 3âÂÂ1 against the Vietnamese side. Shan United then hosted the AFC Challenge League group D with Taiwanese Tainan City and Laotian Young Elephants. Shan United managed to top the group, beating Young Elephants 2âÂÂ0 and drawing 2âÂÂ2 with Tainan City. In the quarter-finals they faced Cambodian side Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng. Shan United went on to retain their third consecutive league title after winning the 2024âÂÂ25 Myanmar National League. The club qualified to the 2025âÂÂ26 AFC Challenge League group stage and the 2025âÂÂ26 ASEAN Club Championship play-off. Shan United founded Shan United W.F.C. to compete in the Myanmar Women League.
Lists of the players with the most caps and top goalscorers for the club in the league games (players in bold signifies current Shan United player).