Two Uzbek footballers to participate in the UEFA Champions League
The streak of good news for Uzbek football fans continues. Our talented defender Abdukodir Khusanov had already secured a spot in the league phase of the new season of the UEFA Champions League, the most prestigious club tournament in Europe, with Manchester City. Now, it is officially confirmed that another compatriot, Umarali Rakhmonaliev, will also participate in this most attractive continental competition. The 22-year-old skilled midfielder's club, Azerbaijan's Sabah, won the national league title this season and earned a spot in the UCL.
Rakhmonaliev's early start in European competitions
Unlike Khusanov, the European journey for Rakhmonaliev and his team begins much earlier. Given the position of the Azerbaijani league in the continental rankings, Sabah is forced to start the competition from the very first qualifying round.
During the draw, the Baku club will be placed in the unseeded pot. As of now, 13 out of 14 potential opponents for the new Azerbaijani champion have been identified.
The list of potential seeded teams that could face Sabah is as follows:
Shamrock Rovers (Ireland)
KuPS (Finland)
Drita (Kosovo)
Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar)
Borac (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Vikingur (Iceland)
Kairat (Kazakhstan)
Universitatea (Romania)
Larne (Northern Ireland)
Riga (Latvia)
KI Klaksvik (Faroe Islands)
Flora (Estonia)
Petrocub (Moldova)
The draw ceremony for the first qualifying round of the Champions League will take place on June 16 of this year. The first intense matches are scheduled for July 7–8 and 14–15 .
The short and glorious history of Sabah
Representing the capital city of Baku, this team was founded in the recent past — 2017, and has been a consistent participant in the Azerbaijan Premier League since 2018. The team finished the 2023 season with silver medals and the following year with bronze.
The 2025/2026 season became a true golden era for Sabah. For the first time in its history, the club secured the national championship. Furthermore, the team achieved back-to-back victories in the Azerbaijan Cup in 2025 and 2026, bringing double joy to their fans.
Umarali's successful run in Baku
Originally a product of the Bunyodkor football academy, Umarali Rakhmonaliev moved from the Tashkent club to Russia's Rubin in 2023 as a free agent. After struggling to secure a spot in the main squad of the Kazan club, our talented player was initially loaned to Sabah, which later bought out his transfer rights completely.
The 22-year-old justified this trust perfectly. This season, he took the field in a total of 34 matches in the Azerbaijan league and cup, scoring 6 goals and providing 2 assists . In a short time, he earned the honorable titles of Azerbaijan champion and two-time national cup winner with Sabah. Now, like our compatriot Khusanov, he will defend the honor of our country in Europe's top stadiums.
Do you think Sabah, led by Umarali Rakhmonaliev, can successfully pass the Champions League qualifying rounds and reach the main stage?
