The head of the Kazakhstan national team press service, Yermukhammed Maulen, commented on his country's defeat against Belarus while also emphasizing the historic achievement of the Uzbekistan team.
“In the 31st minute of the friendly match against Belarus, the score is 0:2, we are facing defeat. Watching the strange mistakes on the field, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry while sitting in the stadium. I think in this situation, we should laugh because crying is of no use,” Maulen wrote.
He highlights that at that moment, he learned about a historic event for the neighboring country's football: “I have wonderful news for you: the Uzbekistan national team has qualified for the World Cup for the first time in its history! I sincerely congratulate the Uzbek brothers!”
Maulen states that it is time to acknowledge that Uzbek football has significantly outpaced Kazakh football today.
“I once mentioned this in a podcast, but for some reason, we don't want to admit that our football is lagging behind Uzbek football. Today is a clear proof of that. You can compare for yourself: we are losing 0:2 to Belarus, while Uzbekistan is qualifying for the World Cup. It seems that none of our players on the field want to score a goal. After all, how can one endure this?! Now I want to move to Uzbekistan!” the press secretary jokes.
It should be noted that the friendly match against Belarus ended in a significant defeat for Kazakhstan with a score of 1:4. On the same day, the Uzbekistan national team recorded a crucial draw (0:0) in the UAE, securing direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. This achievement provided Uzbekistan with the opportunity to participate in the World Cup for the first time in its football history.
