The national U-23 team of Uzbekistan will meet Japan in the semi-finals of the Asian Games.
Japan advanced to the semi-finals after defeating North Korea 1:0 in the quarter-finals. Thus, the hosts of the tournament will face Uzbekistan for a spot in the final.
The semi-final match will take place on September 30th at the Nagai stadium. The game is scheduled to start at 15:30 Tashkent time.
The Uzbekistan U23 national football team has reached the semi-finals of the XX Asian Games, held in Yekaterinburg, after defeating Saudi Arabia 3-0 in the quarter-finals.
Uzbekistan opened the scoring in the 11th minute of the match. The goal was scored by Dilshod Murtazoyev from a free kick.
Azizbek Tulkinboev increased the team's lead in the 77th minute, scoring the second goal against Saudi Arabia.
Ten minutes later, Uzbekistan scored the third goal. Firdaus Abdurakhmanov headed in a cross from the right flank, securing the final score of 3-0.
In the semi-finals, Uzbekistan will play the winner of the quarter-final match between Japan and North Korea. The semi-final match is scheduled for September 30.
The dates for the matches of the Uzbekistan U-15 youth national team at the upcoming FIFA World Cup and festival have been published. The events will take place in Azerbaijan from October 22 to October 31.
According to the schedule, on October 24, the Uzbekistan team will play against Ghana. The next day, October 25, the national team will play two matches: against the Bahamas and Kazakhstan.
On October 26, the Uzbek team will meet Guam and Myanmar. A total of 191 national teams will participate in the festival. The matches will be held in an 8x8 format and consist of two 20-minute halves.
The opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 took place on September 19 in the city of Nagoya, Japan. Uzbekistan is participating in the continental competitions, sending 396 athletes who will compete in 42 sports disciplines.
The event was held at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. The games were officially opened by Japanese Emperor Naruhito. The competitions will last for 16 days and conclude on October 4.
The theme of the ceremony was 'Harmonious Heartbeat'. The Games mascot, Honohon, participated in the program. A kabuki actor's performance against the backdrop of the Nagoya Castle model was presented, as well as a musical program by Japanese violinist Taro Hakase. Before the ceremony, the Japanese self-defense aerobatic team Blue Impulse flew over the stadium.
The ceremony was attended by Empress Masako, Crown Prince Akishino and his spouse, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, Asian Olympic Council President Sheikh Juan bin Hamad Al Thani, and Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura, who heads the Games organizing committee.
The torch for the Asian Games was brought from Tokyo and Hiroshima, which hosted the continental competitions in 1958 and 1994, respectively.
The delegation of Uzbekistan was led by world boxing champion Turabek Khabibullaev and Asian Games 2022 fencing champion Gulistan Perdebayeva, who served as flag bearers. Uzbekistan is represented in 42 sports, 36 of which are Olympic and six are non-Olympic. The delegation includes 224 men and 172 women.
For the first time at the Asian Games, Uzbekistan will participate in beach volleyball, volleyball, sailing, squash, and MMA. In several disciplines, including archery, field hockey, tennis, surfing, triathlon, and squash, athletes will also compete for qualification spots for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
At the Asian Games in Hangzhou, Uzbekistan finished fifth in the medal table, winning 22 gold, 18 silver, and 31 bronze medals. Aripov called on the athletes to improve this result.
Additionally, the 5th Asian Para Games will also be held in Japan from October 18 to 24, where Uzbekistan will be represented by 153 athletes competing in 11 sports disciplines.
