Uzbekistan inches closer to world cup dream - Maksim Shatskix

Maksim Shatskix, the sports advisor to the president of “Pakhtakor” Football Club, has assessed the Uzbekistan's national team's prospects for qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“We are just half a step away from qualifying for the World Cup. The players have gone through a challenging and arduous journey. That’s why I believe we need to take this final step. I hope we secure the World Cup ticket without any major issues. We have matches against the UAE away and Qatar at home. If we manage a draw in the UAE, we will qualify for the World Cup,” said Shatskix.

When asked about the team's strategy for the match against the UAE, Shatskix commented:

“Perhaps we need to adopt a defensive approach and focus on counter-attacks.”

Upcoming Matches: Under the guidance of coach Temur Kapadze, the Uzbekistan national team will face the UAE in an away match on June 5, followed by a home game against Qatar in Tashkent on June 10 as part of the 9th round of the World Cup qualification third stage.