This Post-Soviet Country is becoming very good at football.

In 2026, Uzbekistan will appear in its first ever FIFA World Cup - the first Central Asian country to manage the feat. It's easy to say that the expanded 48-team World Cup Format has given the Uzbeks a path to the tournament which they'd not normally get - but Uzbekistan has come single goals, singles games from qualifying to several other past World Cups. For the first time though, they are producing elite talent, their youth teams are amongst the strongest in Asia, and it seems they are here to stay.