Mentality change is key for Uzbek football, says national team leader

On June 7, the draw for the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifying round took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

As a result of the draw, the Uzbekistan national team, coached by Slovenian specialist Srechko Katanets, was placed in Group "A". In this group, Uzbekistan will face the national teams of the DPRK, Kyrgyzstan, the UAE, Qatar, and Iran.

QALAMPIR.UZ spoke with Otabek Shukurov, the leader of the Uzbekistan national team and a member of the Turkish club Kayserispor, about the draw and the national team's chances of qualifying for the World Cup.

Shukurov expressed confidence in the national team’s squad, noting that the players' unity is stronger than ever. He praised Srechko Katanets, who has been coaching the team since 2021, for bringing positive changes by setting high expectations.

“Recently, we’ve managed to make comebacks against strong national teams. In the past, when we were winning, the opponent would turn the match around. Katanets has made a big difference; we’ve become like a family,” Shukurov says.

During the interview, Otabek Shukurov also discussed the differences between Uzbek and Turkish football, particularly focusing on the mentality of players.

“To be honest, Uzbek football is not at the same level as Turkish football. Turkish football has a high level of professionalism, and the mentality of the players is exemplary. In Turkey, every training session demands all our energy, and they expect us to give our best. I’ve never seen such training intensity or expectations back home,” Shukurov explains.

The 28-year-old midfielder also reflected on the decline of his former clubs, Mash'al and Bunyodkor, mentioning his current focus on the European Championship, where he supports the Turkish national team.