Uzbek officials selected for U-20 Asian Cup in China

The upcoming U-20 Asian Cup, set to take place in China from February 12 to March 1, will feature three Uzbek referees, according to the Asian Football Confederation.

Valentin Kovalenko has been appointed as an instructor, Asker Najafaliyev will serve as the head referee, and Ruslan Serazitdinov will take on the role of assistant referee.

In addition to the referees, Uzbekistan’s youth national team will also participate in the tournament. The White Wolves, led by head coach Farhod Nishonov, have been drawn into Group A, where they will compete against Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and host nation China.

This tournament will also serve as a qualification event for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The four teams that advance to the semifinals will secure a place in the 2025 U-20 World Cup in Chile. Uzbekistan enters the competition as the reigning U-20 Asian Cup champion.