Uzbekistan has made history by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the very first time after playing a goalless draw with the United Arab Emirates on Thursday in Abu Dhabi.
The result secured Uzbekistan the second automatic ticket from Group A in the Asian qualifiers, joining Iran, who had already booked their place in the tournament.
It was Uzbekistan’s eighth attempt at qualifying for the World Cup, and their patience finally paid off at the Al Nahyan Stadium. Although they didn’t score, strong defending and impressive saves from their goalkeeper, Utkir Yusupov, helped secure the crucial point they needed.
Yusupov pulled off three important saves in the second half to keep the UAE from scoring. His performance frustrated the home team, who needed to win to stand a chance of qualifying automatically.
Uzbekistan’s best chance came in the 54th minute when Abbosbek Fayzullaev hit the crossbar with a header. But in the end, a draw was all they needed.
After the match, Uzbekistan’s players celebrated emotionally on the pitch. Defender Rustamjon Ashurmatov and teammate Abdukodir Khusanov were seen cheering with fans, knowing they had just written a new chapter in the country’s football history.
Meanwhile, the UAE will now move on to the fourth round of qualifying. The single point from the draw means they are guaranteed to finish either third or fourth in the group.
In another match on Thursday, Indonesia also advanced to the next round of qualifiers. They beat China 1-0 in Jakarta with a 45th-minute penalty scored by Ole Romeny. The result knocked China out of the running and ensured Indonesia would continue their World Cup journey.
The next phase of the Asian World Cup qualifiers is set to begin in October.
