Eternal dream can come true in the 8th round

The Uzbekistan national football team has a chance to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup during the 8th round of the third qualifying stage for the Asian region. QALAMPIR.UZ examines the scenarios that could help Uzbekistan achieve its long-cherished World Cup dream in the upcoming round.

Neighbors can help Uzbekistan

In the 8th round, the Kyrgyz national team will host Qatar on March 25. If Kyrgyzstan, currently in 5th place with 3 points, manages to defeat Qatar, which sits in 4th place with 10 points, the Kyrgyz team will rise to 6 points. Qatar’s points will remain at 10, ensuring they cannot move up from 4th place. This outcome would eliminate Qatar as a direct competitor, giving Uzbekistan a clearer path to qualification.

North Korea must defeat the UAE

On the same day, North Korea will host the United Arab Emirates in another crucial match. North Korea is currently in 6th place with 2 points, while the UAE is in 3rd place with 10 points. If North Korea wins, the points gap between Uzbekistan and the UAE will widen, assuming Uzbekistan earns a positive result in their match against Iran. 

Match with the undisputed opponent in Tehran

If the above scenarios unfold — Kyrgyzstan defeats Qatar and North Korea beats the UAE — then a draw between Uzbekistan and Iran on March 25 would suffice for Uzbekistan to secure early qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. A draw would result in a 7-point gap between Uzbekistan and the UAE, sealing Uzbekistan's qualification ahead of schedule.

For your information, the 8th round of matches for the 3rd qualifying round will take place on March 25. The matches are scheduled as follows:
- Kyrgyzstan vs. Qatar at 18:45 Tashkent time
- Iran vs. Uzbekistan at 21:00
- North Korea vs. UAE at 23:15