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“Take the keys”: Uzbekistan players gifted cars after historic World Cup spot

11. June 2025
(foto: Screenshot)
Uzbekistan qualified for their first-ever World Cup with a 3-0 win over Qatar, and President Mirziyoyev celebrated by gifting 30 Chinese electric cars to the national team players.

Uzbekistan have qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in history, sealing their place at the 2026 tournament in the USA, Mexico, and Canada with a dominant 3-0 win over Qatar.

The historic achievement sparked celebrations across the country, and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev made sure it was a moment to remember—gifting 30 Chinese BYD electric vehicles, each worth around €50,000, to the players as a personal reward.

The vehicles were parked next to the pitch, with a clear message from the president: "You went to the World Cup, take the keys and drive them home."

Uzbekistan had already drawn 0-0 with the UAE to all but secure qualification, and the emphatic victory over Qatar confirmed their place in the expanded 48-team World Cup.

Aziz Turgunbayev opened the scoring, with captain Eldor Shomurodov and Igor Sergeyev adding two more goals to seal the country's greatest footballing success since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

The celebrations had an unusual international flair, with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev among those in attendance. While Vladimir Putin was absent, it’s worth noting that Uzbekistan is one of the few nations to have played Russia during its sporting isolation.

With political undertones in the background, the night belonged to the players, who delivered when it mattered most—and were rewarded with more than just national glory.

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