October 19 – After the intensity and drama of last week’s FIFA Council meeting, AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim (pictured left) returned to confederation business at the weekend with a visit to Uzbekistan, where he was welcomed by the country’s president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev (pictured right) in Tashkent.
Uzbekistan has become an increasingly influential and ambitious AFC member association and a leader in the Central Asian region. The country has hosted the AFC U-21 and U-23 Asian Cups, as well as the 2024 Women’s U-20 Asian Cup. In 2027, it will host the U-20 World Cup with Azerbaijan.
The meeting addressed ways to improve cooperation between Uzbekistan and the AFC, as well as strengthen the partnership in various areas of football development.
Sheikh Salman praised Uzbekistan’s significant efforts to support amateur and professional football, as well as the development of sports infrastructure and training facilities.
Uzbekistan qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2023 Asian Cup and will be in Saudi Arabia in January 2027 for the next finals. In 2026, Uzbekistan played their first World Cup final.
The discussion explored future cooperation between the AFC and Uzbekistan, including the organization of tournaments for women and different age groups, the provision of technical support for the training of players and coaches, and the identification and development of talent.
Both sides stressed the importance of jointly developing football academies and advancing initiatives aimed at expanding the participation of young people in sport.
Shaikh Salman was joined at the meeting by Saudi Yasser Al-Misehal, a member of the FIFA Council and the AFC Executive Committee; and Datuk Seri Windsor John, Secretary General of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
For Uzbekistan, Adkham Ikramov, Minister of Sports, and FA President Bahodir Kurbanov were present.
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