The Uzbekistan U-21 national team, led by head coach Ravshan Haydarov, is undergoing intense preparations for the U-23 Asian Cup, which will take place in January 2026. Ahead of the continental tournament, the team's head coach held a press conference to discuss preparation plans, team composition policies, and the objectives set for the future. This was reported by the press service of the Uzbekistan Football Association.
The coach stated that the preparation process began on December 7 in Tashkent. A total of 28 players were invited to the training camp, during which the physical and tactical condition of each player was carefully assessed. According to Ravshan Haydarov, the players have participated in various competition seasons, with some joining the camp later. Nevertheless, the coaching staff worked to evaluate all players comprehensively.
The next stage of the training camp is planned to take place in Qatar. There, the Uzbekistan U-21 team will play its final friendly matches against the U-23 teams of Jordan and Qatar. Following these matches, the team will proceed directly to the Asian Cup games.
Speaking about the roster, Ravshan Haydarov noted that the tournament roster would mainly consist of players born in 2005, 2006, and younger — players at the Olympic age. He explained that this decision was made in consultation with the coaching council and based on the experience of previous tournaments. In the past, Uzbekistan's youth teams have achieved good results using this system.
Players born in 2003–2004 have already found their place in club teams, won the Asian Cup, and participated in the World Cup. Additionally, they are regularly invited to the senior national team. Therefore, the decision was made to form a younger, promising squad for the U-23 Asian Cup.
In discussing future goals, Ravshan Haydarov emphasized that the team always sets high objectives. Uzbekistan holds a top ranking in this tournament: the national team has previously won the championship and reached the finals in the last two editions. For this reason, the team is heading to the Asian Cup with great ambitions once again.
The coach believes that this tournament will also serve as a valuable experience and a crucial foundation for future achievements for this generation of players.
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