US Press Reports on the Uzbekistan National Team's Historic Achievement
As the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, interest in the planet's most prestigious and magical sporting event is reaching its peak. Sports publications, analysts, and experts around the world are providing previews and analytical materials about the groups and the participating teams.
Not missing out on this, the influential US publication with a century-long history, Times Union published a comprehensive article dedicated to the most anticipated and interesting debutants of the upcoming World Cup — Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and the Uzbekistan national team. The representatives of Central Asia, in particular, caught the attention of the overseas journalists.
34 years of longing and a broken curse
American commentators specifically noted that the Uzbekistan national team had been known as one of the strongest and most talented teams in the world that had never qualified for a World Cup. Since the country declared independence in 1991, the 'White Wolves' participated in seven consecutive qualifying campaigns, each time falling painfully short at the threshold of the finals. In many cases, our team lacked just one point or goal difference, as if some invisible barrier stood in our way.
However, this time history was rewritten entirely. The long-awaited dream became reality, and our representatives secured second place in their group during the third round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers, punching their ticket to the 2026 World Cup hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The chain of historic triumph is reflected in the following figures:
In the decisive stage of qualifying, 6 wins in 10 matches were achieved;
3 draws were recorded, and only one defeat was suffered in a dramatic away match against Qatar (2-3).
Interesting fact: Through this triumphant run, Uzbekistan became the first country in the Central Asian region to qualify for the final stage of the FIFA World Cup!
Was the Manchester City star overlooked?
While analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of our team, American journalists focused on two main stars. They are the team captain and the all-time top scorer with 44 goals in 90 matches, Eldor Shomurodov and the playmaker who stands out with his unique and creative play, named the Best Young Player in Asia in 2023, Abbosbek Fayzullayev. According to the publication, Abbosbek is the attacking heart of the team.
However, the authors of the article overlooked our giant defender who is currently establishing himself in the squad of the English giant, Manchester City club, Abduqodir Husanov . In fact, our 22-year-old central defender has surpassed both Eldor and Abbosbek in terms of transfer value, popularity, and star status, becoming the true resilient fortress of the team's defense.
Start at the legendary Azteca and Portuguese opponents
Currently ranked 50th in the FIFA rankings, the Uzbekistan national team has been placed in Group K of the World Cup. International experts believe that the true strength and tactics of Uzbek football remain a mystery to many opponents. Therefore, the chances of this disciplined team advancing from the group stage to the playoffs are rated very highly.
A real football show awaits us:
The 'White Wolves' will begin their first-ever World Cup match at Mexico's world-famous, magnificent, and legendary Estadio Azteca against the strong Colombia national team.
In the following rounds, battles await against the giant led by football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which qualified through difficult play-off matches.
A new era is beginning for our country's football; good luck, New Uzbekistan!
Do you think our national team can successfully advance from a group containing strong opponents like Colombia and Portugal to reach the playoffs?
