Uzbekistan has created a Futsal Federation that will commence operations in 2025, according to a report by the Football Association of Uzbekistan (FAU).
Bekzod Mamatkulov, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BMB Holding, has been elected as the president of the new federation. Aziz Akbarjonov, Chairman of the Board of SQB, will serve as vice president, and Marufjon Abdullaev will take on the role of secretary general.
Response to National Team Performance
FAU President Abdusalom Azizov stated that the establishment of the Futsal Federation aims to advance futsal after the national team’s performance at the FIFA Futsal World Cup. The tournament, held in Uzbekistan from September 14 to October 6, saw the national team finish last in Group A, securing one point from three matches and exiting at the group stage.
To address the challenges, the FAU and the Professional Football League (PFL) plan to elevate futsal development and merge it with mini-football and beach soccer under a unified structure. The goal is to promote and grow these sports across the population.
Historical Background
Uzbekistan has a history of attempts to institutionalize futsal. From 2002 to 2004, the Mini-Football Association managed the sport, followed by the Futsal Association from 2004 to 2017. In October 2017, management responsibilities were divided: the FAU oversaw national teams, while domestic championships and the Cup fell under the PFL's jurisdiction.
Futsal expert Alisher Nikimbaev noted that this marks the third iteration of futsal management in Uzbekistan.
“The first attempt ended due to a lack of interest from the leadership. The second attempt achieved greater success in terms of organization and financial stability,” Nikimbaev said.
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