'Nearly men of Asian football' - Uzbekistan's rise to the World Cup

For the first time in World Cup history, Central Asia will have representation after Uzbekistan qualified for the 2026 World Cup on 5 June 2025. A 0-0 draw with the United Arab Emirates triggered celebrations across the nation as Uzbekistan's participation was confirmed, ending a long history of near-misses that had earned them the tag of Asian football's "nearly men".

Uzbekistan had narrowly missed out on three World Cups this century, with each qualification failure marked by controversy or heartbreak. In 2006, they controversially lost a two-legged intercontinental play-off against Bahrain after a first-leg home victory was ordered to be replayed due to a refereeing error. In 2014, they missed out on goal difference to South Korea, and in 2018 they fell two points short of qualifying after another 0-0 draw with South Korea in their final group game. According to Uzbekistan football expert Conor Bowers, qualification is as "significant as winning it would be for nations like England."

The White Wolves' World Cup qualification reflects substantial progress in Uzbekistani football over the past decade, following a long-term development plan to raise standards across the domestic game. The success has already generated tangible results, with new football clubs being created, previously defunct clubs re-emerging, and the number of professional clubs increasing by 36% between 2025 and 2026. The Uzbekistan Football Association has invested in infrastructure improvements, including a new national training centre outside Tashkent modelled on England's St George's Park, upgraded stadium standards, coaching programmes, and academy expansion across multiple regions. Youth-level success has included Under-17 and Under-20 Asian Cup victories and Under-17 World Cup qualification.

Drawn in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and fellow debutants DR Congo, Uzbekistan's World Cup journey represents the culmination of systematic development rather than overnight success. The squad includes Abdukodir Khusanov, a 20-year-old defender signed by Manchester City from Lens in January 2025 for £34 million, who has become the public face of Uzbekistani football. While expectations have risen with qualification, Bowers noted that qualification itself was the primary goal, with anything beyond that viewed as an additional bonus for the nation.