Bulgaria and Slovakia leaders join Uzbek president to watch Uzbekistan beat Qatar in World Cup qualifier

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev hosted Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev in Tashkent on Tuesday to watch the national football team claim a 3-0 victory over Qatar in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

The win secured Uzbekistan second place in Group A with 21 points, earning the team a place at the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The match also marked the end of Qatar’s qualifying campaign.

After the match, Mirziyoyev congratulated the players and coaching staff, who were each awarded a new car in recognition of their performance.

The match came a day after Uzbekistan’s capital hosted the Tashkent Investment Forum, which drew over 8,000 participants from more than 100 countries. Investment projects worth more than $30 billion were expected to be presented at the event, underscoring Uzbekistan’s growing role as a regional hub for international business and diplomacy.

The forum also brought together a wide range of global leaders, including the prime ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan, as well as officials from Russia, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the United States.

In his opening remarks, Mirziyoyev said investment should be seen not only as a tool for economic development, but also as a foundation for global peace and stability.

He outlined Uzbekistan’s strategic priorities in four key areas: the transition to a green economy, the rise of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, the modernisation of the financial sector, and the growing global demand for critical minerals. He noted that Uzbekistan is home to significant reserves of lithium, molybdenum, tungsten, graphite and other minerals, with total subsoil wealth estimated at $3 trillion.

Mirziyoyev also pointed to recent economic achievements, including S&P Global’s upgrade of Uzbekistan’s credit outlook to positive, reflecting years of strong economic growth, rising exports and increased foreign investment.

“For us, investment is not just a financial resource. It also encompasses technology, knowledge, qualified personnel and integration into the international production chain – in other words, real development,” Mirziyoyev said.

“Uzbekistan will create all conditions necessary for foreign investors with such noble ideas, provide its support and guarantee. All doors are open to you in our country. The most important thing is that there are laws that protect your activity.”

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