Uzbekistan qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in history on Thursday. Coach Timur Kapadze’s team only needed a 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates.
The draw at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi ensures Uzbekistan a place in the top two of Group A in the Asian qualifying series, securing their qualification for the World Cup. This is a first in the history of Uzbekistan, a country with about 36 million inhabitants.
Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov is the most well-known player in coach Kapadze’s squad. AS Roma attacker Eldor Shomurodov also plays in the upper regions of European club football.
The World Cup starts in a year and six days. The tournament takes place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. These three host countries are guaranteed participation. Japan, Iran, Argentina, and New Zealand, like Uzbekistan, have already qualified.
The Dutch national team starts the World Cup qualifying series on Saturday. Coach Ronald Koeman’s team opens with an away match against Finland (kick-off: 8:45 PM). A home match against Malta follows on Tuesday at 8:45 PM. Poland and Lithuania are also in the group with Oranje.