Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the development of football in Uzbekistan, highlighting progress in youth football, women’s football, referee training and sports infrastructure.
In an interview with the “Tahlilnoma” programme on Uzbekistan 24 television during his visit to Uzbekistan, the FIFA chief said he regularly visits the country and sees changes in the football sector from year to year. According to him, Uzbekistan has become one of the major football centres in Central Asia and Asia as a whole.
Infantino also noted his close relationship with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and emphasised the impact of the country’s policies on football development.
“Every element of football, not just the national team, is developing organically,” the FIFA president said, referring to the work of youth academies, women’s football, referee training and infrastructure.
Infantino separately praised Uzbekistan’s historic debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to him, the team’s qualification for the World Cup was a historic event preceded by consistent development of the youth and national teams.
The FIFA president said he personally watched Uzbekistan’s national team play at the tournament. He highlighted the atmosphere at the stadium, the support from fans and the presence of the Uzbek flag in the stands.
“To see Uzbekistan at the World Cup, to see the flag of Uzbekistan covering the stands, to feel how excited the players were to participate in the World Cup, and to see how, I think, the whole country, as well as all of Central Asia, supported Uzbekistan — it was something special,” he said.
Infantino also stressed that he has been following the development of Uzbek football for around a decade and had previously visited the country to explore opportunities for its further development.
Next year, Uzbekistan will host the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The FIFA president said the tournament would give young footballers an opportunity to perform on the international stage before reaching the level of global stars.
According to him, the tournament, which Uzbekistan will co-host with another country, will serve as a kind of bridge between the two countries and continents. Matches will be played in two cities in each of the host countries.
The FIFA chief expressed confidence that participants in the tournament would have an opportunity to experience the hospitality and culture of Central Asia.
He also congratulated Uzbekistan on its victory at the 46th World Chess Olympiad, noting the country’s ability to host major international sporting events.
According to him, Uzbekistan has created the necessary conditions for hosting such events, including infrastructure, transport, hotels and security arrangements. He described the country’s hospitality and the friendliness of its people as a particular advantage.
The FIFA president also spoke about his meeting with Shavkat Mirziyoyev. According to him, the two sides traditionally discuss football development.
This time, the discussion focused on further strengthening Uzbek football for all its participants — boys and girls, men and women, referees and fans.
