Uzbekistan Players Awarded Cars for Historic 2026 World Cup Qualification

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced rewards for the national football team following their historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Uzbekistan qualify for their first World Cup, making them the 81st different nation to play in the tournament 🇺🇿 pic.twitter.com/sYOjEHxymb

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 5, 2025

According to Sherzod Asadov, the president’s press secretary, each player will receive a BYD car as a gesture of appreciation.

This follows Uzbekistan’s securing of a World Cup spot with a 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi on June 5, 2025, marking the nation’s first-ever qualification for the tournament.

A celebratory ceremony is planned upon the team’s return from the UAE, where players will be presented with vehicles from BYD, a Chinese automaker that opened a factory in Uzbekistan in 2024.

Additionally, a presidential decree signed on June 6, 2025, awards honorary titles, including “Pride of Uzbekistan,” to head coach Timur Kapadze and 26 players, such as Eldor Shomurodov and Jaloliddin Masharipov, along with state orders and medals for their contributions to elevating Uzbekistan’s global sporting reputation.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico