Uzbekistan, Jordan savour sweet taste of success after making World Cup for first time
While Uzbeks and Jordanians make history on Thursday, also booking their place are perennial participants South Korea
Uzbekistan coach Timur Kapadze lauded the efforts of his players but said “this victory belongs to all of us” after the Central Asian country qualified for the World Cup for the first time.
In Jordan, meanwhile, huge celebrations erupted after the national team also qualified for the 2026 World Cup, earning their first-ever spot at the four-yearly football bonanza following a decisive 3-0 victory against Oman.
While Uzbekistan and Jordan made history on Thursday, the pair will be joined by perennial participants South Korea, who also booked their place.
Uzbekistan’s White Wolves – ranked 57th in the world – claimed their spot with a 0-0 draw in the United Arab Emirates, which guaranteed Kapadze’s side a top-two finish in Group A, alongside already-qualified Iran.
Uzbekistan have tried and failed to qualify seven times since their independence after the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, suffering heartbreak in the final stage of continental qualifiers for Germany 2006 and Brazil 2014.
A genuine force in Asia since their 1994 Asian Games triumph, the Uzbekistan FA has invested heavily in youth development in the attempt to take the final step onto the world stage.