Uzbekistan names Asian Games U23 football squad

Team Uzbekistan have named a 23-man under-23 squad for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where they hope to win their first men’s football gold medal since they last won the competition in Hiroshima 32 years ago.

Head coach Ravshan Haydarov‘s picks feature Muhammadali O’rinboyev, the top scorer in the 2025 AFC U20 Asian Cup and the only member currently playing outside of Uzbekistan. The 21-year-old winger plays for Belgian Pro League club Royal Antwerp and previously spent six months with Brentford’s reserve team.

The squad included fifteen other players who represented Uzbekistan in the AFC U23 Asian Cup in January. Haydarov’s team won their group, which included South Korea, Iran, and Lebanon, before losing their quarter-final to China 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw.

Uzbekistan’s Asian Games football squad

Goalkeepers:

Samandar Muratbayev (Nasaf);

Maksim Murkayev (Pakhtakor);

Umar Rustamov (Olimpik Mobiuz).

Defenders:

Giyos Rizaqulov (Qizilqum);

Dilshod Murtazoyev;

Quvonch Xushvaqtov;

Diyor Abdunazarov (all three from Nasaf);

Dilshod Abdullayev (Pakhtakor);

Ruziboy Fayzullayev;

Saidxon Hamidov (both from Olimpik Mobiuz).

Midfielders:

Ravshan Xayrullayev (Buxoro);

Muhammadali Reimov (Lokomotiv);

Saidumar Saidnurullayev (Metallurg);

Sardor Bahromov (Nasaf);

Ollobergan Karimov (So‘g‘diyona);

Azizbek To‘lqinbekov (Bunyodkor);

Oybek O‘rmonjonov (Dinamo);

Asilbek Jumayev (Neftchi);

Muhammadali O‘rinboyev (Royal Antwerp).

Forwards:

Shodiyor Shodiboyev and Nurlan Ibraimov (Lokomotiv);

Firdavs Abdurahmonov (Dinamo);

Amirbek Saidov (Sugdiyona).

Read more: Uzbekistan U20 reach the 2027 Asian Cup with perfect qualifying record

O‘rinboyev and Saidov will lead the way

O‘rinboyev finished as the 2025 AFC U20 Asian Cup’s leading scorer with four goals. He had joined Brentford B aged 18 after making his Pakhtakor first-team debut at 16 and appearing in the AFC Champions League.

Forward Amirbek Saidov also brings experience from global youth competitions. He scored four times at the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup, including Uzbekistan’s opening goal in a 2–1 last-16 victory over England.

The U23 team took bronze at the previous Asian Games, beating Hong Kong 4–0 in the third-place match. It was the country’s first men’s football medal at the competition since its unbeaten title run in 1994. Uzbekistan had more than 70% possession and attempted 28 shots in that defeat but failed to score, according to the Asian Football Confederation.

Read more: Uzbekistan prepares for its historic FIFA World Cup debut