The Asian Games draw ceremony is scheduled for July 23 and will be held in the city of Nagoya. The national teams of Uzbekistan will participate in the football tournament for both men and women.
The date for the draw ceremony has been set, and it will begin at 09:00 Tashkent time on July 23. On this day, participants in eight sports will be determined: swimming, basketball, football, sepak takraw, handball, cricket, rugby, and volleyball.
Uzbekistan's teams will participate in the men's football tournament as part of the U-23 squad. A total of 15 teams will take part in the men's tournament, distributed into four groups: four teams in Groups A, B, and C, and three teams in Group D. The team distribution was based on the results of the FIFA U-23 Asian Championship held earlier this year, with Uzbekistan placed in the second pot. The men's tournament will run from September 15 to October 3. Matches will be held in the cities of Osaka, Toyota, Nagoya, and Kuria in Japan. The final match will be played at the 'Toyota' stadium in the city of Toyota, which has a capacity of 45 thousand spectators. In the men's tournament, teams can register 22 players, provided that the footballers are older than January 1, 2003, and the inclusion of three older players, similar to the Olympic Games, is permitted.
Twelve teams will participate in the women's tournament, divided into three groups. The team distribution was based on the results of the FIFA Women's Asian Championship held earlier this year, and Uzbekistan was placed in the third pot. The women's tournament is scheduled from September 14 to October 2. Matches will take place in the cities of Fukuroi, Osaka, Nagoya, and Kuria in Japan. The final match will be held at the 'Shizuoka' stadium in the city of Fukuroi, which accommodates 51 thousand fans. There are no age restrictions in the women's tournament, and teams can participate with the main squad of the national team.
Spanish national team midfielder Mikel Merino shared his thoughts ahead of the World Cup 2026 quarter-final match against France.
Merino emphasized the necessity of demonstrating the highest level of play. He noted that it is important for the team to play in its own style, gain an advantage on the field, and maintain the initiative, especially at crucial moments.
According to him, opponents in one-on-one matches are very strong and rely more on the individual skill of the players. Merino reminded all participants that any player with the ball is capable of creating a scoring opportunity.
The midfielder also warned about the high cost of mistakes, insisting that every footballer must maintain maximum concentration throughout the entire match.
The match between Spain and France in the 2026 World Cup is scheduled for July 14.
