Uzbekistan qualifies for FIFA World Cup for the first time in history

Uzbekistan’s national football team has booked a place at the FIFA World Cup for the first time in the country’s history, following a goalless draw against the United Arab Emirates on June 5.

On June 5, in a crucial fixture of the 9th round of the third qualifying stage, Uzbekistan faced off against the UAE. Although the match ended in a 0–0 draw, the result was enough to guarantee Uzbekistan a long-awaited and historic spot in the World Cup.

According to the current standings, Uzbekistan has earned 18 points and holds second place in the group, trailing only Iran. The UAE remains third with 14 points.

Uzbekistan will play its next match on June 10 at home against Qatar. While the result will not affect the standings, the match presents an excellent opportunity for the team to conclude the qualifying campaign on a high note before their historic World Cup debut.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the 23rd edition of the tournament and, for the first time in history, it will be hosted across three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with the final match set to be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA.