Uzbekistan receives almost $10mn as funding from FIFA Forward in eight years

With the support of the FIFA Forward program, Uzbek football has made significant progress in recent years in accelerating its national team development program with the total amount of funding under the FIFA Forward program during 2016-2022 amounting to $9.9mn.

Achievements

Successful performances at the AFC U-20 Asian Cup, AFC U-23 Asian Cup, and FIFA U-20 World Cup were the fruits of an ambitious development strategy for Uzbek football, thanks to which Uzbekistan became the first country in Central Asia to join the FIFA Football for Schools program and actively participating in the FIFA Forward development program.

FIFA Forward

In addition to funds used for team travel, equipment purchases and operating expenses, the FAA has submitted an application to FIFA Forward for funding for a project to build its own base for the country's national teams.

The project supported the FAA in the creation of training fields that meet international standards (2 hybrid and 2 artificial fields), and the reconstruction of the National Team Center for official matches of the men's and women's national teams, including improvements to basic utilities (electricity, heating and sewerage), new locker rooms and living quarters for national teams to optimize training and preparation for tournaments.

The project was divided into the following stages:

• Stage 1 – Construction of four fields with drainage, irrigation system, and floodlights.
• Stage 2 – Reconstruction of the stadium building and stands.
• Stage 3 – Floodlights for the main stadium.
• Stage 3 – Hotel for Uzbekistan League A teams.

“Uzbekistan is leading the development of football in Central Asia, using FIFA Forward funding to invest in infrastructure, organizing knowledge-sharing workshops with other national football associations and hosting major international tournaments. It is great to see that these efforts are also leading to positive results in the game,” said Sanjeevan Balasingam, FIFA Regional Director for NFA Asia and Oceania.

Notably, Uzbekistan qualified for the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup and will match against Qatar on February 3, 8:30 pm (GMT+5).

 

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