We are heading to the World Championship: What do European experts say about us?
The Uzbekistan national football team has secured a spot in the World Cup for the first time in its history, which is resonating not only in our country but also in the international sports community. This is being widely reported in countries with a special place in world football, such as Portugal and Brazil. Prestigious sports publications in Europe and Latin America are expressing positive reactions to the significant achievement of Uzbekistan's football players.
It should be noted that our national team secured its World Cup qualification through a complicated away draw (0:0) against the United Arab Emirates in the decisive match of the Asian regional qualifiers. This result is recognized as the most important event in the new history of Uzbekistan football.
Portuguese football analyst and expert from bolanarede.pt, Diogo Ribeiro, shared the following thoughts: "Uzbekistan – World Cup 2026! The Central Asian country's national team achieved an important draw in the UAE, securing a spot in the World Cup. Uzbekistan will be the first national team to participate in the World Cup for the first time in its history. This is undoubtedly a historic event for the country. The Uzbekistan team has never participated in the World Cup before and will celebrate its historic debut next summer."
Ribeiro also touched upon the overall situation in the group in his analysis. He stated that with only one round left until the end of the third qualifying round, Iran and Uzbekistan occupy the first and second places in the group, directly qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Qatar, the UAE, and Kyrgyzstan will continue to fight for qualification in the next stages.
Uzbekistan's qualification for the World Cup has also sparked great interest in Brazilian football. Sports analyst Jon Peter Andrade from Itatiaia.com.br particularly emphasized this achievement of our national team. According to Andrade, Uzbekistan's draw against the UAE was equivalent to a real final. "This draw opened the doors to the World Cup for the team. The national team was able to withstand the significant pressure from the opponent in this match. Especially, Uzbekistan's goalkeeper O'tkir Yusupov performed at a very high level, saving his team in several dangerous situations," noted the Brazilian expert.
He also paid special attention to Uzbekistan's internationally recognized football players – Eldor Shomurodov, a forward for Italy's Roma, and central defender Abduqodir Husanov, who plays for England's Manchester City. In the expert's opinion, the presence of such high-level players is enhancing the international reputation of the Uzbekistan team.
It is known that the Uzbekistan national team secured its first World Cup qualification ahead of schedule. In the final round of the third qualifying stage, our players will play against the Qatar national team on June 10 at the "Bunyodkor" stadium in Tashkent. Although this match is not of significant importance for our team, it is expected to turn into a real football celebration in our country.
Now, the preparation for the World Cup enters a new phase for our national team. The entire country, football fans, players, and specialists are joyfully welcoming the realization of the dream to participate in the World Cup. Every football fan is eagerly awaiting our team's matches in the World Cup, which will take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. We are confident that this participation will be a great impetus for the further development of football in our country and will increase the interest of the younger generation in sports.
This historic event will undoubtedly be preserved forever in the pages of football history as one of the brightest chapters in Uzbekistan sports. For millions of fans, this is no longer a dream but a reality. The Uzbekistan national team competing on equal terms with the strongest teams in the world on the World Cup fields will undoubtedly enhance our country's reputation. We wish our national team great success in the upcoming matches!
