Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the newly built National Football Center in Yukorichirchik district of Tashkent region.

Two years ago, during his visit to the site, the head of state emphasized the need for a modern sports complex adjacent to the existing stadium. Soon after, on 3 November 2023, a Presidential Decree was adopted “On measures to expand the network of football educational institutions and develop football infrastructure meeting international standards.”

By Independence Day, the new center was commissioned, marking an important milestone in the development of national football. The facility allows simultaneous training camps for six national teams. The complex includes stadiums, educational buildings, sports halls, and a hotel. Additional facilities feature a beach football pitch, an indoor futsal arena, a swimming pool, and a specialized rehabilitation unit.

The center comprises four key divisions dedicated to preparing professional footballers and specialists: the Center for Football Training and Research, the National Teams Training Center, the Republican Football Academy, and the Center for Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.

President Mirziyoyev inspected their work. The sports medicine unit is equipped with modern international technology and advanced recovery methods to help athletes return quickly to training. The football academy focuses on scouting and nurturing young talent, with experts from Argentina, Hungary, and Croatia invited to ensure world-class training. They are actively engaged in preparing coaches, referees, analysts, scouts, and football managers. A VAR center also operates on-site.

The President met with veteran athletes and young footballers, stressing that football is the most popular sport in Uzbekistan and that its development will continue at an accelerated pace.

In recent years, Uzbek football has advanced significantly — from children’s clubs and academies to professional teams and national championships. These efforts have already borne fruit. Among the greatest achievements: Uzbekistan’s national team qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time, and the U-17 national team triumphed at the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in April, earning a spot at the world championship.

President Mirziyoyev met with these young champions, praising their determination:

“We strive to take a worthy place in the world in every field. Our athletes can achieve this faster than others. With your hard-fought victory, you once again proved that when our people work with dedication and determination, they can achieve anything. Through you, the whole world saw a new generation of Uzbekistan — determined, proud, never giving up. We will now pay even greater attention to the development of football. You are the trust of the people and the pride of the President.”

The athletes expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunities created and pledged to justify the trust with new victories for their country.