AFC U23 Asian Cup
Champions in 2018, Uzbekistan also reached the final of the 2022 and 2024 editions, underlining their reputation as among Asian football’s powerhouses.
Factfile
Previous appearances: 6
Best finish: Champions (2018)
2024 record: Runners-up
How they qualified: Second-best runners-up (Group E)
Group C fixtures: v Lebanon (Jan 7), v IR Iran (Jan 10), v Korea Republic (Jan 13)
Fun fact: Uzbekistan have finished in the top four in each of the last four editions.
Previous appearances: 6
Best finish: Champions (2018)
2024 record: Runners-up
How they qualified: Second-best runners-up (Group E)
Group C fixtures: v Lebanon (Jan 7), v IR Iran (Jan 10), v Korea Republic (Jan 13)
Fun fact: Uzbekistan have finished in the top four in each of the last four editions.
To add to their status, Uzbekistan are also among the seven elite teams to make every edition of the Finals.
The Central Asian side, who beat Vietnam for their first title and were runners-up to Japan in their last outing, will go all out to not only make the semi-finals yet again but to also reclaim the trophy.
The Central Asian side, who beat Vietnam for their first title and were runners-up to Japan in their last outing, will go all out to not only make the semi-finals yet again but to also reclaim the trophy.
2018 Final: Vietnam 1-2 Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan were unbeaten in Group E of the Qualifiers, scoring eight goals and conceding three but finished behind Kyrgyz Republic on goal difference after both sides collected seven points.
Head coach Ravshan Khaydarov is expected to rely on FC Surkhon’s Rustam Turdimurodov (pictured below), who scored four goals in their three qualifying matches, to power the Central Asian side to glory.
Head coach Ravshan Khaydarov is expected to rely on FC Surkhon’s Rustam Turdimurodov (pictured below), who scored four goals in their three qualifying matches, to power the Central Asian side to glory.
Khaydarov can also place faith in Pakhtakor FC’s Askarov Bekhruzbek, who nabbed two goals.
Aiming to deny the young White Wolves’ title aspirations in Group C will be Islamic Republic of Iran, debutants Lebanon and 2020 champions Korea Republic.
