Uzbekistan will host the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly on 26 January in Tashkent, with authorities using the occasion to outline recent developments in the country’s sporting structure and event-hosting capacity.
A statement released ahead of the Assembly pointed to a period of expanded international engagement, competitive results and infrastructure investment as evidence of the country’s growing role within regional and global sport. The statement said these efforts were part of a longer-term strategy aligned with national sports policy.
Competitive highlights include the national football team’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first in the country’s history, following success at regional level. The statement also cited Uzbekistan’s 13th-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, along with medal performances at youth and para-sport events during 2025.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, commenting during a visit to Tashkent in 2025, described Uzbekistan as “a football nation that is implementing large-scale projects,” and noted the opening of the National Football Center.
Infrastructure projects completed during the past year include Olympic City, a multi-venue sports complex opened in August 2025. The site has been designated as the main hub 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, said recent outcomes reflected “the coordinated work of athletes, coaches, federations and specialists across the sports system.”
In addition to the upcoming OCA General Assembly, Uzbekistan has hosted several international sports meetings and competitions in recent years. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, following the FIA Annual General Assemblies in Tashkent in 2025, said the visit demonstrated “a clear focus on long-term development and youth.”
Looking ahead, Uzbek sports authorities confirmed that the 2026 calendar includes the World Triathlon Championship Series in Samarkand (25-26 April), the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand (15-28 September), and the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Tashkent (8-10 October).
