Uzbekistan's qualification to the World Cup is a turning point in football history!

The Uzbekistan national football team’s qualification for the World Cup for the first time in its history has become a subject of major discussion not only in our country but also on the international football stage. This achievement is being highly praised by experts, well-known coaches, and former footballers. Today, we present to you the opinions and thoughts of several prominent figures on this matter.

Yuriy Semin: "Football in Uzbekistan is reaching a new level"

Famous Russian specialist, who has worked in the teams "Lokomotiv Moscow" and "Dynamo Kyiv", Yuriy Semin emphasized that the growth of football in Uzbekistan is consistent and noticeable.

"Football potential in Uzbekistan is growing. Pay attention to the players they are developing: Abbosbek Fayzullaev is playing with us. Another talent — Abduqodir Husonov — is a member of a world giant like Manchester City. This indicates that work being carried out in youth and junior teams, as well as in the football federation, is at a very good level. They must not turn back from this path,” said Semin.

According to him, a consistent system has been established in the Uzbekistan Football Federation. "Last year, they participated in the Olympics, and now — the World Cup. This is not by chance — it is the result of serious reforms. In the near future, new stars will surely emerge from them," he added.

Ja'far Irismetov: "This is the triumph of the whole nation"

Former forward of the Uzbekistan national team Ja’far Irismetov described this achievement as the collective victory of the entire people.

"Our guys turned a long-standing dream into reality. Every Uzbek citizen felt proud upon hearing this news. Our footballers fought relentlessly on the field until the final whistle. Even one point opened the doors to the World Cup for us. This is a great success," said Irismetov.

He emphasized that the team had undergone excellent preparation, and coach Timur Kapadze worked at a high level during this process. "The team played with a clear plan and discipline. The players fully felt the responsibility. I want to congratulate Timur especially," he said.

About the qualification process

Let us remind you that the third round of the qualification stage for the 2026 World Cup in the Asian region was very intense. Uzbekistan's national team, in Group "A", together with Iran, secured a direct ticket to the World Cup. From each group, only two teams proceed directly to the final stage.

Teams that take 3rd and 4th place in the group will continue to fight for the remaining tickets in the additional round. The Uzbekistan national team will play its final group match on June 10 in Tashkent against the Qatar national team.

The 2026 World Cup will be organized jointly in three countries — the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For Uzbekistan, this will be the first opportunity in history to participate in the World Cup and show its potential to the whole world.

The Zamin.uz editorial team believes our national team will continue to perform successfully in this challenge and wishes them victories together with the fans.