FIFA President Gianni Infantino highly praised the development of football in Uzbekistan, drawing attention to successes in youth and women's football, referee training, and sports infrastructure.
During his visit to Uzbekistan, in an interview with the program 'Tahlilnoma' on the Uzbekistan 24 television channel, the FIFA head stated that he regularly visits the country and observes the changes in the football sector year by year. According to him, Uzbekistan has become one of the major football centers in Central Asia and all of Asia.
Infantino also emphasized the close ties with the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and highlighted the influence of the country's state policy on football development.
The FIFA President noted that every element of football is developing, not just the national team, citing the work of youth academies, women's football, referee training, and infrastructure.
Infantino specifically commended Uzbekistan's historic debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He believes that the team's qualification for this tournament was a landmark event made possible by the continuous development of youth and national teams.
The FIFA head shared that he personally watched the national team of Uzbekistan play in the tournament. He noted the atmosphere in the stadium, the support of the fans, and the presence of the Uzbek flag in the stands.
He shared his impression: 'Seeing Uzbekistan at the World Cup, seeing the Uzbek flag covering the stands, feeling how excited the players are to participate in the World Cup, and seeing how, I think, the whole country, as well as all of Central Asia, supported Uzbekistan—it was something special.'
Infantino also pointed out that he has been monitoring the development of Uzbek football for about ten years and previously visited the country to study its potential for further growth.
Next year, Uzbekistan will host the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The FIFA President announced that this tournament will give young footballers a chance to compete on the international stage before reaching world-class status. The tournament, which Uzbekistan will co-host with another country, will serve as a bridge between the two countries and continents. Matches will be held in two cities of each host country.
The FIFA head expressed confidence that the tournament participants will experience the hospitality and culture of Central Asia.
Furthermore, he congratulated Uzbekistan on winning the 46th Chess World Championship, noting the country's ability to host major international sporting events. In his opinion, Uzbekistan has created all the necessary conditions for such events, including infrastructure, transport, hotels, and security measures. He described the country's hospitality and the friendliness of its residents as a special advantage.
The FIFA President also mentioned his meeting with Shavkat Mirziyoyev. According to him, the sides traditionally discuss issues of 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.