NPR
Uzbekistan makes its World Cup debut, a first for Central Asia
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Title: Uzbekistan qualifies for World Cup, first Central Asian nation to do so
Summary: Uzbekistan became the first Central Asian nation to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. Fans have used the qualification to display their country's culture. The country's president stated that the team represents the "new Uzbekistan."
Original reporting: https://www.npr.org/2026/06/27/g-s1-129705/uzbekistan-world-cup