'You can feel a different energy in the country'
The most memorable chapter of this journey was written on June 5th, 2025, when a goalless draw against the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi mathematically secured qualification for the World Cup.
This will be Uzbekistan's first-ever appearance at a World Cup, and also the first edition of the tournament with 48 teams.
"Qualifying for the World Cup is something that's still hard to take in. For a long time, Uzbekistan's football came close to reaching this goal, but there was always a final hurdle that seemed impossible to overcome.
"Almost a mental barrier. Finally being able to take that step means much more than just a sporting result. It's a historic moment for the country and for everyone who believed in this project over the years", says Otabek Shukurov, exclusively to Flashscore.
"We are aware of the responsibility this brings, because we know that millions of people will follow this team with pride and high expectations... We will be watched by many thousands of people.
"Since we secured our place at the World Cup, you can feel a different energy in the country. Football has become part of everyday conversations and there is growing confidence in the future of our national team.
"We hope this achievement can help Uzbek football grow even more and show the world the talent we have in our country," he added.
'We want to leave a positive image of Uzbek football'
A senior international for Uzbekistan since 2016, Shukurov is one of the most respected figures in the country's football and played a key role in the historic journey to the 2026 World Cup.
Fully aware of the challenges the team will face in the final stage and not shying away from the outsider label, the Baniyas midfielder assures that there is "a lot of confidence in the work" being done by the national team and believes Uzbekistan can leave a "positive image" of the country's football on the world stage.
"It's normal that many people see us as an outsider team, especially since we don't have the international experience of other national teams. But within the group, we feel something different.
"There is a lot of confidence in the work we've been doing and in the path we've taken to get here. We know the difficulties we'll face, but we also know what we're capable of when we play united and focused," he assured.
"We want to use this tournament to show personality, organisation, and competitiveness, and to reinforce the quality that exists.
"The goal is to fight for every match until the end and leave a positive image of Uzbek football. Still, we are fully aware of the level of the teams we'll face and the demands that a competition like this brings," he emphasised.
Clash against Portugal: 'All their players are stars'
DR Congo, Colombia, and Portugal. These will be Uzbekistan's opponents in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. Analysing the team led by Roberto Martínez, captained by Cristiano Ronaldo and packed with talent, Shukurov was full of praise, highlighting the quality of one of the teams tipped to go far in the tournament.
"Portugal needs no introduction. It's a team with tremendous collective quality and players capable of making a difference at any moment.
"They have experience, intensity, and a very high technical level, as well as players used to the biggest stages in world football. For me, they are clearly one of the teams with the conditions to fight for the title," he said.
"When you look at the Portuguese squad, you realise that almost all the players compete at the highest level. They're all stars. But what impresses me most is precisely the way they function as a team.
"We know it will be a very tough challenge and that we'll have to stay focused from the first to the last minute. But the truth is, we also have our own strengths and, with respect and humility, we'll try to make things difficult for Portugal," he concluded.
Uzbekistan's strengths: 'Commitment, discipline, and unity'
Finally, it's important to highlight the strengths of the Uzbek national team. Shukurov paints the picture of a team that has found its own identity under the leadership of Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro and assures that, despite the outsider status, the dream is still very much alive within the group.
"Our team built its identity through commitment, discipline, and group unity. Maybe we're not a team full of internationally known stars, but we have players with a great desire to compete and represent the country in the best way possible.
"There's a very strong bond in the locker room and you can feel that on the pitch. We're living a dream - how could we not give our all to be happy?" he insisted.
"It's the dream of each one of us. We'll fight for every ball and always try to maintain our organisation and balance.
"At the same time, we have the technical quality and speed to cause problems for our opponents. This team truly represents the mentality of the Uzbek people. We know the World Cup will be a huge challenge, but we want to face it with ambition and show that Uzbekistan can compete at this level," he noted.
FIFA World Cup 2026
The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11th to July 19th in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will feature 48 national teams and will be played in 16 modern stadiums.
Match schedule and times | Group tables | England at the World Cup | Scotland at the World Cup | Team rosters at the World Cup | How to watch the World Cup | Predictions and odds | Which teams could be considered dark horses?