On June 10, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, was present at the Bunyodkor Stadium for the Uzbekistan national football team’s match. This game marked a significant milestone for Uzbek football and became a true celebration. The team had already secured a place at the World Cup, a first in the country’s history, and their dream had finally come true. Despite participating in qualifiers seven times before, the team had always fallen short due to various reasons. However, with the adoption of a football development program by Presidential Decree in 2018 and the establishment of football academies in 14 regions of the country, the team’s training and performance significantly improved. This was further supported by a Presidential Resolution in 2023, which focused on the comprehensive development of grassroots and professional football. As a result, the U-23 team became the champion of Asia in 2018 and the U-20 team repeated this success in 2023. The country also began hosting FIFA and AFC tournaments. In 2024, the U-23 national team competed in the Olympic Games for the first time in history. This year, the success continued with the U-17 team winning the Asian Cup and earning a place in the World Cup. And now, the senior national team has achieved a historic victory.
Uzbekistan competed in Group A of the third qualifying round, facing off against Iran, Qatar, the UAE, Kyrgyzstan, and North Korea. On June 5, the match against the UAE ended in a draw, and by the end of the ninth round, the team had secured a place in the World Cup ahead of schedule with 18 points. In his congratulatory message, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev praised the team for their courage and resilience in fulfilling the dream of the Uzbek people. This historic victory further united the nation and brought joy to the entire country. The final match of the qualifying stage, Uzbekistan vs. Qatar, was a true celebration as the team dominated and secured a 3:0 victory. In recognition of their achievement and contribution to fostering a love for sports and national pride among the youth, a group of players and coaches were awarded state honors by the President. The football celebration concluded with a drone show and fireworks.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 48 national teams participating. Our nation eagerly awaits new victories from our footballers.