Ground has been broken to mark the start of construction work on a new 55,000 capacity football stadium in New Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The President’s Office said the New Tashkent Stadium will be built in compliance with all FIFA requirements and will become one of the largest and most technologically advanced football venues in Asia.
The FIFA Council decided in October to hold the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in 2027 in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
In each country, tournament matches will be held in three stadiums. The final and semi-finals must be held in a stadium with a capacity of more than 50 thousand spectators – this is one of FIFA’s requirements.
The new $100 million stadium will not only serve as a venue for the 2027 Under 20 World Cup but will also become a driver for the development of Uzbekistan football and youth sports for decades to come.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at a ground-breaking ceremony, “The foundation of the New Tashkent Stadium, which we are laying today, is the basis for our victories tomorrow. I am confident that this stadium will be a source of inspiration for young people, a symbol of national pride, and a great gift to millions of fans.”
The President said Uzbekistan’s right to host the U27 world championship is yet another expression of the international community’s trust and high regard for the country.
It was emphasized that a separate state program will be approved as part of preparations for the tournament, which will define tasks related to infrastructure, transportation, hotel services, medicine, and volunteer activities.
At the end of the event, President Mirziyoyev laid a capsule in the foundations to kick off the start of construction work on the stadium.
The last five years have been a turning point for Uzbek football. The national championship system has been reformed and youth academies have been created. There are 75 large and 302 mini stadiums operating in the regions.
While in 2017 there were only three football stadia in the country that met the requirements of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation, today there are more than 10.
Recently, the construction of a modern National Football Center was completed in Yukorichirchik district.
All building projects in New Tashkent are implemented based on a unified concept – a harmonious combination of a modern architectural approach and national values, with an emphasis on environmental friendliness and “smart management.”
The new stadium, built in accordance with this concept, will be integrated into the natural environment and built on the principles of green energy, smart management and the creation of a comfortable urban environment.
Football pyramid
More than 65,000 thousand young athletes play football in specialist schools, where coaches and sports medicine experts from leading foreign clubs are involved.
A system for selecting football players has been created, starting at the mahalla level. To this end, incentive mechanisms have been introduced, and mini fields have been set up in 70 percent of mahallas.
Some 1,500 school stadiums have been renovated, and over a million schoolchildren and young people have been attracted to football.
Tournaments among mahallas, districts, regions, and at the republic level have become traditional. These measures have begun to bring results.
President Mirziyoyev added, “For the first time in history, our Olympic team competed at the Olympics in Paris. For the first time, the national team won a ticket to the next World Cup. And now in Qatar, our U-17 footballers are defending the country’s honor as Asian champions.”
Today, 20 Uzbek footballers play for prestigious foreign clubs. Their combined transfer value exceeds $60 million.
It was particularly noted that Abdukodir Khusanov became the most expensive footballer in Asia. This reflects the international recognition of the Uzbek football school.
The President also said that during his recent visit to Uzbekistan, FIFA President Gianni Infantino highly appreciated the attention paid to football, the infrastructure created, the reforms in management and, in general, the fundamental changes that have taken place in Uzbek football.
Infantino said that the international football community has great respect for Uzbekistan and that the country is now one of the football giants of Asia.
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