Shomurodov and Fayzullayev could face Kazakh clubs
Two bright stars of Uzbek football — Eldor Shomurodov and Abbosbek Fayzullayev — have demonstrated true resilience and skill on the green pitches of Turkey this season. According to the latest information from sports.kz , one of Kazakhstan's most influential sports publications, the team where our compatriots play is preparing to shake up the European stage in the new season. Most interestingly, according to the draw results, there is a high probability that prominent Premier League clubs will face the force led by Shomurodov and Fayzullayev in European competitions.
It has become known that these two skilled representatives, who are leaders of the Uzbekistan national team and the Istanbul club Istanbul Basaksehir, will officially participate in the UEFA Conference League matches in the upcoming 2026-2027 season.
A complex path and the drama of the final in Trabzon
Istanbul Basaksehir, managed by the renowned expert Nuri Sahin, finished the intense 2025-2026 Turkish Super Lig season in fifth place with 57 points. According to the current strict regulations, only the top four teams and the domestic cup winner can secure a direct spot in continental European competitions from Turkey.
However, the fifth-place finisher also had the fortune of reaching the international stage, thanks to the result of the Turkish Cup final. In the decisive match of the national cup, Trabzonspor, which had already secured a European ticket by finishing in the top three of the league, faced Konyaspor. In a fierce encounter, Trabzonspor won 2-1 and secured a spot in the Europa League. Since the cup winner had already qualified for Europe via the league, their cup slot passed to the fourth-placed team, Besiktas. As a result, the Conference League qualifying spot vacated by Besiktas was automatically transferred to the fifth-placed Basaksehir.
Top scorer Eldor and Abbosbek, who overcame injury
The concluded intense championship was truly triumphant for the Uzbek lads, who spent their debut season with Basaksehir. The captain of our national team, who played with dedication in all 34 matches of the Turkish top flight, Eldor Shomurodov scored 22 goals against his opponents, entering history in golden letters as the absolute and best top scorer (bombardier) of the Turkish Super Lig .
Our talented playmaker Abbosbek Fayzullayev went through some difficult days after suffering an unexpected serious injury during the season. However, our strong-willed representative returned to the pitch during the most decisive and intense phase of the championship, showed his skills, and secured a firm place in the Istanbul side's starting lineup.
It is worth noting that Eldor Shomurodov is no stranger to European competitions. In the 2021-2022 season, wearing the jersey of the Italian club Roma, he became the first historic winner (champion) of the Conference League. Furthermore, while playing for the Romans, he also participated in Europa League matches, scoring against world-famous clubs like Eintracht (Germany) and Athletic (Spain). For Abbosbek Fayzullayev, the upcoming matches in the Basaksehir jersey will be his first historic debut appearances in official UEFA-sanctioned cups.
Potential clash with Kazakh giants
Istanbul Basaksehir will begin its European campaign from the second qualifying round of the Conference League. In this round, the Turkish club could theoretically be drawn against Kazakhstan Premier League representatives such as Elimay (if they pass the first round) or Tobol.
This is because the Istanbul team has a high official UEFA ranking, placing them in the seeded pot during the draw. Conversely, Kazakh clubs will be among the unseeded teams, which significantly increases the likelihood of them facing each other. Another Kazakh giant, Astana, will be in the seeded pot in the second round due to its high ranking, so they will not face the Turks in the initial stage. Regardless, a clash between brothers will certainly be very interesting!
Do you think Eldor Shomurodov and Abbosbek Fayzullayev can lead Istanbul Basaksehir to the final of the Conference League in the new season?
