Football as a Bridge of Friendship: Ambassadors of World Cup Participant Countries Meet in Islamabad

A special event was held in the city of Islamabad, bringing together ambassadors of countries that have qualified for this year’s FIFA World Cup.

The event was attended by the ambassadors of Uzbekistan, Türkiye, Morocco, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, all of whom are accredited in Pakistan and represent nations participating in the World Cup.

During the event, representatives of these countries delivered presentations on their teams’ journeys through the qualification stages, ongoing efforts to develop football, as well as the role of sports in promoting youth health and education.

In his speech, Uzbekistan’s Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev highlighted the comprehensive reforms being implemented to develop football in the country. He emphasized that in recent years, significant attention has been given to children’s and youth football, modern football academies are being established, and coaches’ qualifications are being improved in line with international standards. These factors, he noted, play an important role in forming a competitive national team.

The diplomat also drew attention to the key factors behind Uzbekistan’s qualification for the World Cup. In particular, he pointed to the rising level of the domestic championship, the discovery of young talents, and the consistent development of football infrastructure, all of which are positively impacting the country’s performance on the international stage. It was also noted that team discipline, a professional approach within the coaching staff, and strong support from fans played a decisive role in securing Uzbekistan’s place in the World Cup.

In addition, the head of Uzbekistan’s diplomatic mission emphasized efforts aimed at developing sports infrastructure in the country, especially in football.

“Developing both professional and grassroots football in Uzbekistan has been elevated to the level of state policy,” he said. “In recent years, a number of resolutions and decrees aimed at advancing football have been adopted by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. As a result of their effective implementation, football in Uzbekistan has reached a new stage. Our national teams across various age groups are regularly participating in continental and world championships. In particular, our under-19 and under-20 teams have won Asian championships. At the same time, Uzbekistan is expanding its capacity to host major international tournaments. Notably, in 2027, Uzbekistan will co-host the FIFA U-20 World Cup together with Azerbaijan. Currently, thorough preparations are underway for this competition. The construction of a modern stadium with a capacity of 55,000 spectators is progressing rapidly in New Tashkent. Such facilities are being built to meet international standards and will create opportunities to host not only national but also prestigious international matches. These efforts will further strengthen Uzbekistan’s participation in the World Cup and its position on the global football map.”

At the conclusion of the event, participants once again emphasized that football is not only a competition, but also a bridge of friendship and mutual understanding, and wished success to all teams participating in the World Cup.

It should be noted that this year’s FIFA World Cup will take place in June–July in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In the group stage, Uzbekistan will compete against the national teams of Colombia, Portugal, and Congo.