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Uzbekistan Secures Historic 2026 World Cup Spot, Signaling a New Era for Central Asian Football

Uzbekistan’s 0‑0 draw with the United Arab Emirates on 5 June 2025 earned the nation its first World Cup berth, a milestone built on decades of development, a new training hub near Tashkent, and the emergence of star defender Abdukodir Khusanov under coach Fabio Cannavaro.