“Heroes of Our Time”: President Mirziyoyev Honours Uzbekistan’s World Cup Squad
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev hosted a special reception for the Uzbekistan national football team and their coaching staff following the country’s historic qualification for the World Cup.
During the meeting with head coach Fabio Cannavaro and his squad, the president heaped praise on the players, officially labelling them as the «heroes of our time». The President acknowledged the monumental achievement of reaching the global tournament and outlined a bold new vision to capitalise on this sporting success to inspire the next generation.
«Every Mahalla — a Football Pitch»
To ensure the national team’s triumph leaves a lasting legacy, Mirziyoyev announced the launch of a nationwide grassroots initiative titled «Every Mahalla — a Football Pitch».
This massive sporting movement will see the creation of a dedicated «Mahalla League» designed for boys and girls aged between 12 and 17. The structured competition will allow young players to compete across four distinct tiers starting at the local neighbourhood mahalla level before advancing to district, regional and finally national tournaments.
According to the President, this new system will provide children with the opportunity to play competitive football close to home while making it significantly easier for professional clubs to scout and recruit emerging talent from every corner of the country.
Praise for Cannavaro’s modern approach
Mirziyoyev also took time to highlight the profound impact of the coaching staff. He personally congratulated Fabio Cannavaro on securing his first World Cup appearance as a manager. Noting Cannavaro’s pedigree as a 2006 World Cup winner and Ballon d’Or recipient, the President praised the Italian for implementing modern footballing standards within the national setup.
He credited the coaching team for drastically improving the squad’s physical conditioning, tactical discipline, high pressing and overall ball control.
Looking ahead to the group stages
As the team prepares to face formidable opponents in Portugal, Colombia and Congo during the tournament, Mirziyoyev urged the players to approach the matches without feeling burdened by external pressure.
«Our people believe in you, the President believes in you,» he told the squad. «Step boldly onto the pitch and play from the heart.»
The growth of football in Uzbekistan
The meeting also shed light on the rapid expansion of football infrastructure and participation across the nation in recent years.
Recent statistics presented during the gathering reveal that over 1.3 mln people now play the sport regularly on an amateur basis while the number of professional players has reached 17,000. To support this soaring popularity the government has heavily invested in local facilities. In recent years Uzbekistan has opened more than 200 major sports complexes, established approximately 4,000 private sports clubs and built over 1,500 dedicated football pitches within local mahallas.
From economics and politics to business, technology and culture, Kursiv Uzbekistan brings you key news and in-depth analysis from Uzbekistan and around the world. To stay up to date and get the latest stories in real time, follow our Telegram channel.
