Mirziyoyev congratulates the national team on historic World Cup qualification

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has congratulated the members of the Uzbekistan national football team, who secured a historic place in the FIFA World Cup after their match against the United Arab Emirates in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 tournament. The press service of the President reported the news.

In his congratulatory message, the Head of State noted that the team had given the people of Uzbekistan a festive gift during the holy holiday of Eid al-Adha.

“Undoubtedly, such a remarkable result, which will be inscribed in golden letters in the annals of our national sport, has been the dream of millions of football fans and our entire nation for many years. Your professional knowledge and qualifications, experience and skills, and most importantly, your strong will and faith in victory—which have turned this dream into reality—deserve every admiration and praise.

I believe that you will draw new strength and inspiration from this glorious achievement and, deeply feeling the great honor of being the first and only representative not only of Uzbekistan but of the entire Central Asian continent at the World Cup to be held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada next year, will show even greater dedication,” the message read.

For reference, on June 5, in the Asian qualifying round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United Arab Emirates hosted Uzbekistan at Al-Nahyan Stadium. The match ended in a 0–0 draw.

With this result, the Uzbekistan national team, led by head coach Temur Kapadze, officially qualified for the World Cup.

The match was officiated by an elite team of Australian referees, with FIFA referee Shaun Evans serving as the main official on the field.

This achievement marks the end of a 34-year wait for Uzbekistan, making it the country’s first-ever qualification for a World Cup.