Uzbekistan qualify for first-ever World Cup | OneFootball

Uzbekistan have made history by booking their spot at the World Cup 2026 for the very first time after a 0-0 draw with the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

Keeper Utkir Yusupov pulled off three solid saves in the second half to help seal qualification and send the team through.

The result also works out well for the UAE, who move on to the fourth round of qualifying as the point was enough to guarantee they finish third or fourth in Group A.

Uzbekistan are now the eighth team to punch their ticket to the expanded 48-team tournament, which kicks off in 2026 across the USA, Canada and Mexico.

The three hosts are in automatically, while Japan, New Zealand, Iran, Argentina and now Uzbekistan have all booked their spots too.

Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan didn’t even enter World Cup qualifiers until 1997.