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Uzbekistan is set to host the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly on January 26 in Tashkent, offering a platform for authorities to showcase recent advancements in the nation’s sporting infrastructure and event-hosting capabilities.
Ahead of the Assembly, a statement highlighted a period of increased international engagement, competitive achievements, and infrastructure investments, underscoring Uzbekistan’s growing influence in regional and global sports. These efforts, the statement noted, are part of a long-term strategy aligned with national sports policy.
Notable competitive milestones include the national football team’s historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a first for the country, following triumphs at the regional level. The statement also acknowledged Uzbekistan’s 13th-place ranking at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, along with medal-winning performances at youth and para-sport events in 2025.
During a 2025 visit to Tashkent, FIFA President Gianni Infantino lauded Uzbekistan as “a football nation that is implementing large-scale projects,” also recognizing the inauguration of the National Football Center.
Infrastructure developments completed in the past year include Olympic City, a multi-venue sports complex inaugurated in August 2025. The complex has been designated as the central venue for the 4th Asian Youth Games, scheduled for 2029.
Otabek Umarov, First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan and OCA Vice President for Central Asia, attributed recent successes to “the coordinated work of athletes, coaches, federations, and specialists across the sports system.”
In addition to the upcoming OCA General Assembly, Uzbekistan has hosted a series of international sports meetings and competitions in recent years. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, following the FIA Annual General Assemblies in Tashkent in 2025, commented that the visit demonstrated “a clear focus on long-term development and youth.”
Looking forward, Uzbek sports authorities confirmed key events on the 2026 calendar, including the World Triathlon Championship Series in Samarkand (April 25-26), the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand (September 15-28), and the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Tashkent (October 8-10).
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