Ravshan Haydarov: “We will prepare for the U-23 qualifiers without underestimating any opponent!”

The draw for the 2026 U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers took place yesterday. According to the results of the draw, the Uzbekistan Olympic team was placed in Group E and will play against teams such as Kyrgyzstan, Palestine and Sri Lanka. This group match will be held in Kyrgyzstan.

The head coach of our national team, Ravshan Khaidarov, positively assessed the results of the draw and noted that the team has set clear goals for advancing to the next stage:

"We have received information about our opponents in the qualifiers and the host country, Kyrgyzstan. Of course, there can be unexpected results in youth competitions - young players develop and change every month. Therefore, we will take each opponent seriously and try to prepare to the maximum," the coach said.

According to Khaidarov, the football infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan is developing rapidly and new stadiums are being built. This will be the basis for their strong preparation as hosts.

“Palestine has always been known as a naturally unpredictable and mysterious team. Despite the difficult situation in the country, they have several strong players who are gaining experience in Europe. We have not faced Sri Lanka before. We do not have complete information about this team yet, but we will study them carefully,” said Khaidarov.

According to the expert, the main focus is currently on preparing our own team. The players’ performances in the domestic championship - the Super League - are regularly monitored, and each player is treated individually.

“Many players who came out of the previous U-20 squad are now playing for the national team or for foreign clubs. This is an honor for us, but we need to develop new talents to replace them. We believe in young people and consider creating opportunities for them as our main goal,” added the head coach.

According to Haydarov, along with successfully passing the qualification and participating in the Asian Cup, this tournament will be an important platform for preparing the players for future major competitions.

Zamin.uz editorial team wishes good luck to the Uzbekistan Olympic team and a successful qualifying stage for the coach and our team.