FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Uzbekistan defeats North Korea

The Uzbekistan national football team secured a narrow 1-0 victory over North Korea in the sixth round of the third qualification stage for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The match took place at Laos' National Stadium in Vientiane.

The game’s decisive moment came in the 44th minute when Abbosbek Fayzullayev struck a stunning goal from outside the penalty area, giving Uzbekistan the lead. Despite several efforts, North Korea was unable to equalize in the first half.

The second half witnessed intense drama as Uzbekistan’s Umid Eshmurodov received a red card in the 83rd minute for a handball inside the penalty box. This critical moment presented North Korea with an opportunity to level the score. However, Uzbekistan's goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov made a crucial save, denying the penalty shot and preserving his team's lead.

This match marked Uzbekistan's second victory against North Korea in Group A, following a similar 1-0 win in Tashkent earlier in the qualifiers. With this win, Uzbekistan has accumulated 13 points, maintaining their second-place position in the group. Meanwhile, North Korea remains at the bottom of the table with only two points from six matches.

The Uzbekistan team, coached by Srečko Katanec, continues to strengthen its bid for a spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026, demonstrating resilience and tactical discipline.