A new history has been created in Uzbekistan football: How did FIFA respond?
The Uzbekistan national team drew with the UAE in an important match, securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup, after which FIFA issued a special statement through its official page regarding this achievement. The international federation recognized the historical significance of this event for our country's football and emphasized the value of this achievement through many legendary names from the past.
According to FIFA's statement, over the past decades, Uzbek football stars such as Server Jeparov, Odil Ahmedov, Ignatiy Nesterov, and Maksim Shatskix have given their all for the national team, yet they were unable to achieve the historic dream of qualifying for the World Cup. Among them was Timur Kapadze, who holds a special place in the history of the country's football. However, fate had its own game — it was Timur Kapadze who, as a coach, accomplished what he could not as a player, sealing his name in the pages of history forever.
Kapadze participated in 119 matches as a player for the national team, and now, at the age of 43, he has led our national team to the World Cup as a coach. This has earned him respect not only in the hearts of Uzbek fans but also in the global football community.
The Uzbekistan national team had previously faced several painful and heartbreaking defeats in the qualifying stages for Germany 2006 and Brazil 2014, remaining on the threshold of the World Cup. Each time, the hearts of football fans were left with regret and despair, but this time, the 0:0 draw recorded in a tense and nerve-wracking match in Abu Dhabi became a turning point in history.
This historic result is significant not only for Uzbekistan but also for the entire Central Asian region, as it marks the first time a team from the region has qualified for the World Cup. Although the history of football in the region spans a century, until now, no national team had been able to achieve this milestone.
At the same time, the country's football has endured many hardships. The plane crash of the "Pakhtakor" team, which participated in the Soviet championship in 1979, remains the saddest event in the history of Uzbek football. After that, significant efforts were made for many years to restore and develop the football system in the country.
As a result of these efforts, modern football academies were established in the country, and youth teams began to show high results in international tournaments. In the last fifteen years, Uzbekistan's youth teams have reached the quarter-finals of the U-17 World Cup twice, and the U-20 team recently reached the Round of 16 in the World Cup held in Argentina. The Olympic team also recorded another historic achievement by participating in the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.
FIFA has also recognized the talents of the younger generation in the Uzbekistan national team. In particular, Abbosbek Fayzullayev has won the hearts of fans with his speed and relentless efforts, while Abduqodir Husanov has managed to showcase his strong will, physical strength, and leadership abilities not only in local teams but also in England's grand club — "Manchester City".
Thus, the historic success of our national team has garnered great recognition not only from Uzbek fans but also from the international football community. Now, the global football community has begun to closely follow Uzbekistan's debut in the World Cup to be held next year in the USA, Canada, and Mexico with great interest. This historic event is seen as a significant step confirming that a new era has begun in Uzbekistan football.
