АNKARA, January 17. /Dunyo IA/. Eldor Shomurodov, The Uzbekistan national football team player, who showcased his skills in his first season in the Turkish Süper Lig with “İstanbul Başakşehir FK”, emerging as the league’s top scorer with 12 goals in 17 matches, spoke in an interview with Turkey’s leading news agency, “Anadolu”, about the growing attention to football in Uzbekistan, his personal dreams and professional goals as well as his plans for the future, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The footballer highlighted the significant progress Uzbek football has made in recent years:

“First and foremost, our state and our President attach great importance to football. Young people are given extensive opportunities across all areas, and as a result, we are achieving these outcomes. I believe that over the past 10–15 years, we have made remarkable progress”, - he said.

Speaking about Uzbekistan’s historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Shomurodov added:

“This is the first time in our history that we have reached the World Cup. Everyone is very excited. We are training hard for the tournament. The most important thing is to deliver a performance worthy of our country. There is always a chance to advance from the group. Of course, we won’t be satisfied with just participating - we aim to achieve a strong result. We want to show the world football that represents Uzbekistan at its best”.

Emphasizing that he will never forget the match against the United Arab Emirates, which secured Uzbekistan’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Shomurodov said: “That was the most unforgettable match of my career. It was that game that gave me the opportunity to participate in the World Cup. I will never forget it, because my entire football journey flashed before my eyes during those 90 minutes”.

In the interview, Shomurodov also spoke about the national and cultural values of Uzbekistan: “Uzbek cuisine rivals even Turkish cuisine. Beyond the exceptional food, we have historic cities such as Samarkand, Khiva, and Bukhara. Tashkent has also undergone many changes - there are so many beautiful places here. Uzbekistan has countless sites worth visiting”, - footballer noted.