11/06/2026

SPORTS THURSDAY | JUNE 11, 2026

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2026 WORLD CUP

Uzbekistan investment pays off

UZBEKISTAN’S qualification for their first World Cup marks the high point to date of a steady climb to the upper reaches of the global game in the 35 years since gaining independence from the former Soviet Union. Since January last year, Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov has become the internationally recognised face of the nation following his move to the Premier League, boosting the profile of one of Asia’s growing powers. The 22-year-old central defender embodies the impact a series of government-backed initiatives have had on the sport in the country, yielding a growing crop of talented players ready to perform on the biggest stage. “Uzbekistan’s qualification for the World Cup is a defining moment not

who want to be involved off the pitch. “This will help our entire sporting ecosystem to thrive for years to come.” Cannavaro is aiming to join one of football’s most exclusive clubs, two decades after captaining Italy to victory in the 2006 final. Only three men in football history have won the World Cup both as players and as head coaches. Brazil’s Mario Zagallo achieved the feat first after winning the tournament as a player in 1958 and 1962 before guiding Brazil to the title in 1970. Germany’s Franz

will provide further momentum for the sport’s growth. “Playing in the World Cup will inspire millions of young people, not only in Uzbekistan, but across Central Asia and in Uzbek communities around the world,” he said. “This celebration of sport will inspire future generations to get active, live healthily and ultimately improve lifestyles in our country for years to come. “We have one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations on the

around 15,000 school grounds undergoing renovation.

just for football, but for sport and national identity across our country,” Otabek Umarov, the first vice president of Uzbekistan’s Olympic committee, told Reuters . “As the first Central Asian nation to reach the World Cup, this achievement unites 38 million people in shared pride and joy.” Khusanov and his Uzbekistan team mates have benefited significantly from government investment in footballing infrastructure, with

A network of dedicated football schools has also been established that supports the development of more than 65,000 young players while plans are in place for a new 55,000-capacity stadium, the largest in the country. “Every Uzbekistani som spent has been part of a coherent, long-term strategy, and the results speak for themselves,” said Umarov.

“From World Cup qualification and a Premier League player in Abdukodir Khusanov, to a 13th-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics.” Coached by World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, Uzbekistan will begin their maiden campaign against Colombia before facing DR Congo and Portugal with Umarov confident qualification

Beckenbauer followed by winning as a player in 1974 and as coach in 1990, while France’s Didier Deschamps lifted the trophy as captain in 1998 and repeated the achievement as head coach in 2018. Cannavaro now has an opportunity to become the fourth.

mini pitches constructed across the nation and

planet, which means that we will not only benefit from new generations of young athletes, but also from young men and women

Chancel Mbemba

Abdukodir Khusanov

Congo determined to put aside poor image

commitment within the camp, noting that his players are working with focus and calm. Desabre also pointed to the importance of the ongoing training camp, stressing that while the foundation phase is going well, there is still significant work ahead before their opening World Cup fixture against Portugal. “Everything is going well,” Desabre said. “The players are working hard and are very focused on their tasks. We’re in the first week of preparation and there are still a fortnight to go before our first World Cup match against Portugal. “We’ll be building up our intensity gradually. Honestly, we’re having a completely normal training camp.” He further emphasised the structure and organisation behind the scenes, particularly the role of the medical and support staff in ensuring smooth preparation. “The medical staff are in constant contact with Fifa and we’ve been following health protocols since the Covid period,” he added. Desabre’s comments reflect a measured and disciplined approach as DR Congo aim to make a strong impression at the World Cup, with the coach keen to maintain balance between intensity and careful workload management during the early stages of preparation.

perseverance in a gruelling campaign where they narrowly lost out to Senegal in their original group before travelling thousands of miles to ensure qualification. “Those experiences have made us stronger and more resilient, and they’ve led us to this. After all the hard work the players and the staff have put in over the last three years, they’ve thoroughly earned it,” said their French coach, Sebastien Desabre, who has kept a consistent team selection and made much of the team spirit developed in his almost four years in charge. Most of his squad are European-born, either in Belgium, France or Switzerland, plus the London born Aaron Wan-Bissaka,

DR Congo, Africa’s second largest country by landmass, has since gone through frequent political and economic upheaval

AFTER a 52-year

wait, the Democratic

which has had a marked effect on the football team and left them playing for decades far below their rich potential.

Republic of Congo return to the World Cup determined to

expunge the image of naivety and folly left

But by dipping into the growing diaspora, they have put together a solid squad who were able to qualify for the 2026 finals, albeit needing to come through two playoffs to do so. First, the Congolese competed in a continental playoff in November for the best four runners-up across the nine African groups and eliminated powerhouses Cameroon and Nigeria to win. That earned them a place in the inter-confederation playoff in March where they edged Jamaica in extra- time in Mexico to become the second-last country to book a berth at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It was a reward for persistence and

behind on their only previous appearance. It was when the

country was still known as Zaire and competed at the 1974 finals in West Germany – the first African side from south of the Sahara to go to the World Cup. As reigning continental champions, there was hope that they could boost the fledgling status of African football but instead they left behind a dopey and tatty image after losing all three games, including a 9-0 thumping from Yugoslavia.

previously called up by England but

who missed out on a cap through injury. “We are extremely proud because a whole

generation hasn’t been able to see its national team in the World Cup but now they will see them there,” added Desabre. The Leopards French tactician highlighted the strong sense of