Uzbekistan celebrates historic World Cup qualification with victory against Qatar

By&nbspAkis Tatsis successful Tashkent

Published on 11/06/2025 - 17:10 GMT+2

Uzbekistan celebrated becoming nan first ever Central Asian federation to suffice for nan shot World Cup pinch a 3-0 triumph complete Qatar successful their last group game.

The White Wolves had already secured their spot astatine nan 2026 finals past Thursday pursuing a 0-0 tie pinch nan United Arab Emirates. The consequence guaranteed them 1 of nan 2 apical spots successful Group A of nan World Cup Asian qualifiers, alongside Iran.

Prior to this campaign, Uzbekistan had grounded connected 7 occasions to suffice for nan World Cup since its independency from nan Soviet Union successful 1991. The team's only awesome triumph antecedently had been winning nan men's shot tourney astatine nan Asian Games successful 1994.

Tuesday's triumph complete Qatar astatine nan Bunyodkor Stadium, successful nan Uzbek superior of Tashkent, was secured pinch goals by Eldor Shomurodov, Igor Sergeev and Aziz Turgunboev. Uzbekistan ended successful 2nd spot successful Group A pinch 21 points, down Iran connected 23 points.

Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev watched nan match, and was photographed sitting alongside nan Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, and nan President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, arsenic good arsenic respective heads of authorities from Central Asia.

Fico, Radev and dozens of overseas officials and world investors attended nan Tashkent International Investment Forum earlier connected Tuesday.

Before nan match, Uzbekistan Football Association President Bakhodir Kurbanov and nan country's Sports Minister Adkham Ikramov presented medals to nan team’s staff.

Following nan game, President Mirziyoyev gave retired awards and talented cars to nan players arsenic a reward for qualifying.

"They showed existent courageousness and perseverance and our group realized that their dream comes true", Mirziyoyev said.

"I americium convinced that this humanities accomplishment combines our group successful nan measurement of noble goals, a awesome of inspiration for thousands of young people, to further summation nan world Uzbek prestige," he added.

The authorities has invested successful nan country's shot improvement since 2018, which included nan opening of shot academies for young players successful 14 regions nationwide.

In December 2019, Mirziyoyev signed a decree to amended nan modular and improvement of football, including preparing nationalist teams for world tournaments. Uzbekistan past twelvemonth qualified for nan Olympic Games shot tourney for nan first time.

With Asia now having 8 guaranteed qualifiers successful nan caller 48-team World Cup — compared to conscionable 4 successful nan 32-team format that ended successful 2022 pinch nan Qatar tourney — Uzbekistan was a apt contender to measurement up.

While astir of its squad plays successful nan country's home league, it includes a fewer Europe-based stars for illustration Roma guardant Eldor Shomurodov and Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

The 2026 World Cup will beryllium held adjacent June successful nan United States, Canada and Mexico.