“We all know each other from childhood” — The rise of football in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan, a country in Central Asia, has two very interesting features.

Uzbekistan is one of only two countries in the world that is double landlocked. A double landlocked country is a country that is surrounded by other landlocked countries. 

The only other country in the world that is double landlocked is Liechtenstein.

Only two countries in the world are double-landlocked; that is, surrounded by two (or more) landlocked countries, meaning you'd have to cross at least two borders to reach a coastline. pic.twitter.com/5lDjhoKH7c

— H i s t o r y V i l l e (@HistoryVille) September 28, 2020

Also, Uzbekistan is the best footballing nation in Central Asia. The gap between themselves and other nations in the region seems to be double-fold. 

The country has achieved great success at the youth level. Most recently, Uzbekistan won the U-20 Asian Cup in 2023 and reached the final of U-23 Asian Cup in 2022. 

Another promising factor about the growth of football in the nation is the country’s overall population. Uzbekistan has a population of 37 million people and the continual rise of football can affect generations to come. In May 2023, FIFA president Gianni Infantino met with Uzbekistan president Shavkat Mirziyoyev in his first visit to the nation. The visit took place only a month after FIFA launched the FIFA for Schools initiative in the country. FIFA provides schools with equipment and opportunities to kids to access the sport through education. Infantino believes the combination of promising developments in the sport were influential to launching the initiative in the country.

“The reason why we launched this programme here is because, of course, Uzbekistan is an important country, it’s a big country with a population of 37 million people,” Infantino said. It’s a country that loves football and the Football for Schools programme is a programme whereby children in school- girls and boys…learn not necessarily, or not only, how to play football, but through Football for Schools, they learn values, the values of football: respect, tolerance, team spirit. These values are important to build a young country with a great history, Uzbekistan.”

Upon reflection of Infantino’s words, respect and team spirit can often be built through creating team chemistry. Tolerance seemingly reflects an even deeper bond. It suggests players are willing to put differences aside or put in extra effort for the sake of the collective group, and not the individual.

These sentiments are often reflected in teams that are highly successful. Shakzod Toirov, a center back for the U-23 national team and FC Surkhon Termez, a club in Uzbekistan, spoke to the Sports Gazette about the bond between players in the national team.

“In the national team we have a great team, we all know each other from childhood,” Toirov said. “So, we have a good atmosphere.”

Photo from Shakzod Toirov

Photo from Shakzod Toirov

The personal relationships between players seems to help to build respect, tolerance, and team spirit. Toirov spoke about winning the U-23 Asian Cup quarterfinals against Iraq in Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan. The match was played in the Pakhtakor Central Stadium and in front of a full capacity of 35,000 fans. He described the match as the best atmosphere he has played in. 

“It was the most unforgettable meeting and atmosphere.”

Uzbekistan reached the final of the U-23 Asian Cup, but suffered a 2-0 loss against Saudi Arabia.

The country is now aiming to replicate their success at the youth level for the men’s national team.

Uzbekistan has never qualified for a World Cup despite coming close in 2014. The men’s national team reached the fifth round of Asian qualifiers to determine the intercontinental playoff, but suffered a loss to Jordan.

The women’s national team has never reached a World Cup, but is aiming to qualify as well. Uzbekistan international Makhilyo Sarikova has launched an academy in Karshi, Uzbekistan. The signals of intent for continual development in the sport are evident.

At the men’s club level, this has been a historic season for Uzbekistan clubs. In the Asian Champions League, there are four Uzbek clubs for the first time since 2016.

One of those four clubs currently in the ACL is PFC Navbahor Namangan. 

Navbahor was drawn into the same group as Al-Hilal. Navbahor played Al-Hilal on September 18th, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and picked up a point in a 1-1 draw. 

Asian footballer writer, Adwaidh Rajan, spoke to the Sports Gazette about the results from the Uzbekistan clubs, particularly Navbahor’s 1-1 draw, and he believes it is “not a small feat”. 

Recording that result away from home adds an extra layer of intrigue and Navbahor will be keen to play the return leg. 

Rajan believes Asian football is in the midst of a very “exciting” period.

“It’s exciting days for Asian football,” Rajan said. “The national teams such as Japan, Korea Republic and Australia have been doing well and several Japanese and South Korean players are firing on all cylinders in leagues across Europe. Be it Son Hueng-min, Kaoru Mitoma, Hwang Hee-Chan, or Kim Min-Jae.”

Uzbekistan’s continual development in the sport could bring a sense of compelling interest surrounding football in Central Asia.

If it continues, the gap between Uzbekistan, as the premier footballing nation in the region, and other nations in Central Asia could become triple-fold.