In November, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev officially inaugurated the construction of a new, monumental football stadium in New Tashkent. With a planned capacity of 55,000, the venue will become the largest stadium in the country’s history and one of the most technologically advanced in Asia.

A stadium for the future in the heart of New Tashkent

The project, valued at around $100 million, is part of a broader strategy through which Uzbekistan has been steadily strengthening its position on the global football map. The new arena will clearly surpass the country’s current largest stadiums — Pakhtakor Stadium (35,000 seats) and Bunyodkor Stadium (34,000).

Designed to meet all FIFA standards, the stadium is intended to combine modern architecture with national identity and environmentally friendly solutions. According to President Mirziyoyev, the choice of location is deliberate. New Tashkent is envisioned as a hub of innovation, modern urban planning and a city of the future. All developments in the area, including the stadium, follow a unified concept that blends contemporary design, cultural values, sustainability and so-called smart management.

The venue will be fully integrated into the surrounding urban fabric and natural landscape. Plans include the use of green energy, intelligent management systems and fan-focused infrastructure. Authorities stress that the stadium is not meant to function solely as a football ground, but as a multifunctional sports and community centre. The foundation we are laying today is the basis for our victories tomorrow, Mirziyoyev said during the groundbreaking ceremony, symbolically placing a time capsule in the foundations.

This is what a new stadium in Uzbekistan could potentially look like.

U-20 World Cup and growing international trust

The stadium project is closely linked to preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2027, which Uzbekistan will co-host with Azerbaijan. Matches in each country are set to be played across three stadiums, while the semi-finals and final — in line with FIFA requirements — must take place in venues with a capacity exceeding 50,000. The new stadium in Tashkent is expected to be the centrepiece of the tournament.

Uzbek authorities have also announced a dedicated state programme covering transport infrastructure, hotel capacity, healthcare services and a large-scale volunteer initiative. Hosting the U-20 World Cup is seen as further evidence of growing international confidence in the country and its organisational capabilities.

This is what a new stadium in Uzbekistan could potentially look like.

Infrastructure and development overhaul

The past five years have marked a turning point for Uzbek football. The league system has been reformed, a nationwide network of youth academies established and large-scale investments made in sports infrastructure. Today, 75 major stadiums and 302 mini-stadiums operate across the regions. In 2017, there were only three pitches meeting FIFA and AFC standards; now there are more than ten. A modern National Football Centre has also recently been completed in the Yukorichirchiq district.

More than 65,000 young players are currently training in specialised football schools, supported by coaches and sports medicine experts from leading foreign clubs. Talent identification begins at the local mahalla level. Mini-pitches have been built in around 70% communities, approximately 15,000 school stadiums have been renovated, and over one million children and teenagers are now involved in organised football activities.

This is what a new stadium in Uzbekistan could potentially look like.

Historic national team milestones

The scale of investment is beginning to translate into results on the pitch. For the first time in history, our Olympic team competed at the Paris Games. For the first time, our senior national team qualified for the World Cup. And today, our U-17 players are representing the country in Qatar as Asian champions, the president noted.

Uzbekistan’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup was unprecedented. After seven unsuccessful attempts since gaining independence in 1991, the country finally secured its place on football’s biggest stage — a breakthrough celebrated domestically and widely acknowledged abroad.