By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, attended the Uzbekistan national football team match at the Bunyodkor Stadium on June 10, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul said.
The final World Cup qualifying stage game became a true celebration of Uzbek football. However, Uzbekistan players had already secured a place at the World Cup ahead of schedule: for the first time in history, the Uzbekistan national team will participate in the FIFA World Cup!
A dream cherished for many years by millions of fans has become a reality. Previously, the team had participated in the qualifiers seven times, but something was always missing – an inconvenient schedule, goal difference, or just a bit of skill.
Strength and a solid foundation were needed to leave no room for excuses. By Presidential Decree of March 16, 2018, a football development program for 2018-2022 was adopted. Football academies for children and youth were established in 14 regions of the country, where talented young players are selected, professionally trained, and prepared as reserves for the national teams. The quality of training and tournaments has significantly improved. Special attention was given to training coaches, referees, and specialists.
On December 4, 2019, the President signed the Decree “On measures to take football development in Uzbekistan to an entirely new level”. The document provided for the development of football clubs, training of international-level specialists, organization of modern training and education programs for national teams, and hosting of prestigious competitions in the country. The Presidential Resolution of April 8, 2023, on the comprehensive development of grassroots and professional football played a significant role.
The first significant results soon followed thanks to such a focused and systematic approach. In 2018, Uzbekistan’s U-23 team became the champion of Asia in China, and in 2023, the U-20 team repeated that success at the tournament held in Tashkent. The country also began hosting tournaments under the auspices of FIFA and the AFC.
In 2024, a new chapter in the development of Uzbek football was opened – for the first time in history, the U-23 national team competed in the Olympic Games.
The success continues this year as well. In April, the U-17 team won the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia and earned a place in the World Cup. And now, the senior national team has also achieved a historic victory.
Uzbekistan competed in Group A of the third qualifying round. The team faced off against Iran, Qatar, the UAE, Kyrgyzstan, and North Korea for nearly a year. On June 5, the match against the UAE ended in a draw. By the end of the ninth round, the national team had earned 18 points and secured a place in the World Cup ahead of schedule.
In his congratulatory message, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that the players had shown courage and resilience in fulfilling the dream of the Uzbek people.
“I am confident that this historic victory will further unite our nation on the path toward noble goals, serve as a source of inspiration and an example for thousands of our young people, and contribute to strengthening the international standing of New Uzbekistan”, the Head of State emphasized.
Indeed, this historic victory united and brought joy to the entire country. The final match of the qualifying stage – Uzbekistan vs. Qatar – turned into a true celebration.
In front of their devoted fans, the Uzbekistan national team demonstrated complete dominance and secured a 3:0 victory.
In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of June 6, for the country’s first-ever qualification for the World Cup and for their contribution to fostering a spirit of love for sports and national pride among the youth, a group of players and coaches of the national team was awarded state honors. A solemn award ceremony was held after the match. The Head of State presented the athletes with insignia of honorary titles, orders, and medals. In addition, BYD brand cars were gifted to the players and specialists.
Together with the Head of State, the President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, and heads of government from Central Asian countries watched the match.
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. A total of 48 national teams will participate in the games, divided into 12 groups. The teams finishing first and second in each group, and the eight best third-place teams, will advance to the next stage. The Uzbek people are eagerly awaiting new victories from their footballers.
