Uzbekistan - The Times Of Central Asia

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World Cup

Uzbekistan Signs Fabio Cannavaro as Coach Ahead of World Cup

Fabio Cannavaro has signed a contract with the Uzbekistan Football Association to coach the national team, which qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in the country’s 34 years of independence. “The Italian coach will prepare our team for the World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico,” the association said after the contract was signed on Monday at Uzbekistan’s National Football Center. It said Cannavaro had the experience and skills to deliver success for Uzbekistan, describing him as “a three-time World Cup participant, 2006 World Cup winner, one of the best defenders of the recent past, and a renowned expert.” “We have seen that a defensive playing style brings results,” Ravshan Irmatov, the association’s first vice president, said at a news conference. “We believe that with his international experience, professional culture, and tactical strictness, he will bring new spirit and a new system to our national team.” At the news conference, Cannavaro said he was thankful for the trust shown in him and outlined some plans to help Uzbekistan’s national team get comfortable with the pace and demands of the World Cup level. “The intensity of the Super League needs to be increased; we will discuss this with the management. The more we move at a high tempo during the game, the better the results will start to be. Players' recovery is also very important. We would also ask the coaches at clubs to send daily, weekly, or monthly performance data of the players so that we can know whether their results are improving or not,” Cannavaro said. “I had offers from 7-8 places. First of all, the fact that the team qualified for the World Cup and the seriousness of the project here encouraged me to accept the offer. Is it difficult to play at the World Cup? Yes, very difficult, but we will try,” he said. Cannavaro replaces Timur Kapadze, an Uzbekistani former pro football player who led the national team to its first-ever qualification for the World Cup with a 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi in June. Cannavaro said he had discussed the team with his predecessor, noting that having “local specialists” on the staff will help him learn about the players’ mentality and the culture of Uzbekistan. To that end, Kapadze will remain for now as an assistant coach. The Uzbekistan Football Association said the coaching staff that will help Cannavaro includes assistant coach Eugenio Albarella, who has worked with Japan’s national team as well as Juventus, Udinese, and Dinamo Zagreb; fitness coach Francesco Troise, who has collaborated with Benevento, Udinese, and Dinamo Zagreb; and goalkeepers coach Antonio Kimienti, who has experience with Italy’s national youth team, and the Sampdoria and SPAL clubs.

Gold

Central Banks Add 15 Tons of Gold in August, Led by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

Global central banks added a net 15 tons of gold to their reserves in August, according to the World Gold Council (WGC), citing data from the International Monetary Fund and national central banks. The figure matches the monthly average recorded between March and June, indicating a return to purchasing after a brief pause in July, when reserves remained unchanged due to Indonesia’s 11-ton sale. The WGC observed that although record-high gold prices in 2025 may have tempered some central bank activity, demand remains resilient. “The recent slowdown in buying does not necessarily signal that central banks are losing interest in gold,” the report stated. A full third-quarter review of global gold demand will be published on October 30. Countries expanding their gold holdings in August included Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, China, Bulgaria, Ghana, and the Czech Republic. The National Bank of Kazakhstan led the gains with an 8-ton increase, its sixth consecutive month of accumulation, raising its reserves to 316 tons. The Central Bank of Uzbekistan added 2 tons, lifting its total to 366 tons, although this remains 17 tons below its level at the end of 2024. Turkey and China each purchased 2 tons, bringing Turkey’s total reserves to 639 tons and China’s to over 2,300 tons. Bulgaria’s 2-ton acquisition marked its largest monthly increase since 1997, bringing its holdings to 43 tons ahead of its planned eurozone accession in January 2026. The Czech National Bank also added 2 tons, continuing an uninterrupted buying streak for the 30th consecutive month and raising its reserves to 65 tons. Only two countries, Russia and Indonesia, reduced their holdings in August. Russia sold 3 tons, reportedly for its coin-minting program, while Indonesia offloaded 2 tons. Uzbekistan has remained one of the most active gold purchasers globally. In January 2025, it topped the WGC’s list by acquiring 8 tons, which brought its reserves to 391 tons, representing approximately 82% of its total international reserves.

Sports

Uzbekistan to Co-Host FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2027 with Azerbaijan

It’s been a big year for Uzbekistan’s football ambitions. In June, the national team qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing a 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi that was enough to propel Uzbekistan into the main draw. It is the first time that Uzbekistan, which has built up its sports infrastructure over the years, has qualified in the country’s 34 years of independence. Now Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are celebrating their joint appointment as host nations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2027. The announcement was made on Thursday at a meeting of the FIFA Council in Zurich, Switzerland. “Great News!” the Uzbekistan Football Association said. “This competition is considered the second most significant men’s national team tournament organised by FIFA, after the FIFA World Cup itself,” said the association, adding that Uzbekistan had gained hosting experience in recent years by staging some big international football events. Last year, Uzbekistan hosted the FIFA Futsal World Cup, a fast-paced variation of football that is played indoors. Some 52 matches were played during the contest. The cities of Tashkent, Andijan and Bukhara hosted games and tournament organizers received generally positive reviews. FIFA, football’s governing body, has been helping the Central Asian country to modernize its football facilities by funding pitch construction, floodlight installation and the renovation of a stadium. Azerbaijan, in the South Caucasus region, is also delighted with the prospect of co-hosting the FIFA event in 2027, describing it as a showcase for its good relations with Uzbekistan. The decision “is a clear indication of the friendly relations between the heads of state, the policies aimed at the welfare and development of the countries, as well the special attention and care shown to sports in both countries,” said Rovshan Najaf, president of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. The two nations have worked to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties, agreeing this year to a goal of boosting bilateral trade and investment to $1 billion annually by 2030. The FIFA U-20 World Cup is held every two years. Argentina hosted it in 2023 and this year’s tournament is currently underway in Chile.

Aviation

Uzbekistan Signs $5.9 Billion Deal to Build Central Asia’s First Green Aviation Fuel Plant

Allied Biofuels FE LLC Uzbekistan has signed key land and water agreements with the Khorezm regional government, marking a significant step toward building Central Asia’s first integrated biorefinery for zero-carbon aviation fuel. The announcement was made during the International Investment Forum in Khiva, where Khorezm Governor Jurabek Rakhimov met with a company delegation led by Chairman and Managing Director Alfred Benedict. The $5.9 billion project will be located in Tuproqqal’a district in the city of Khorezm, and aims to establish a climate-aligned aviation fuel supply chain in Uzbekistan. Once operational, the facility is expected to produce 382,000 tonnes of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), 152,000 tonnes of Electro-Synthetic SAF (e-SAF), and 11,000 tonnes of renewable green diesel annually. The refinery will be supported by 2 GW of PEM electrolysers, making it one of the largest initiatives of its kind in the region. Benedict described the agreements as “a landmark moment for Allied Biofuels and for Khorezm,” emphasizing that the project combines international expertise with local support to help Uzbekistan achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2030. “This facility will not only supply sustainable aviation fuel at scale but also foster economic growth in the region,” he said. Uzbekistan has committed to becoming carbon-neutral by the end of the decade, and the Khorezm biorefinery is expected to play a central role in that transition. By producing zero-carbon fuels for transport and industry, the project aims to reduce fossil fuel dependency and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Rakhimov welcomed the decision to site the project in Khorezm, highlighting its significance for regional development. He stated that the initiative will create hundreds of skilled jobs, strengthen Khorezm’s position as a hub for green energy, and boost the local economy. Rakhimov also pledged to personally oversee the allocation of land and infrastructure needed to ensure successful implementation.

Domestic Development

Central Asia and Regional Integration: Logistics, Water, Energy

Central Asia is undergoing a profound transformation, where questions of domestic development and the region’s ability to act in a coordinated way are coming to the forefront. For many years, Central Asian states were viewed as fragmented, each pursuing separate strategies that often put them in competition. Today, however, shared challenges and growing interdependence are making gradual convergence increasingly likely. The region now confronts common pressures such as water scarcity, energy imbalances, environmental degradation, and the fallout of instability in Afghanistan -- issues that no single country can effectively address in isolation. Increasingly, regional platforms such as the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) are being leveraged to mediate water-energy tradeoffs, while joint initiatives in transport, transit, and energy infrastructure foster new integration. Moreover, leading actors like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are pushing coordinated strategies -- modernizing rail and aviation links, coordinating transboundary water allocations, and exploring nuclear cooperation -- that point toward a more interconnected regional future. Shared Challenges and Points of Convergence The region faces problems that no country can solve alone. These include water shortages, energy imbalances, environmental risks, and instability in Afghanistan. Such challenges can be seen as both threats and opportunities, since they also represent areas of overlapping interest. Joint action in these fields can deliver more than fragmented national strategies. Water is particularly important, remaining one of the most sensitive issues in interstate relations. Yet it also offers opportunities for coordinated action through existing regional platforms, such as the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia. The “water for energy” model is increasingly seen as a practical tool, already under discussion and applied in bilateral and multilateral projects. Environmental issues are similarly shared. The disappearance of the Aral Sea, land degradation, air pollution, and glacier melt create threats that transcend national borders. Joint monitoring, data exchange, and coordinated adaptation measures, particularly within the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan, opened in August 2025 in Almaty, could become a new direction for regional cooperation. Afghanistan remains another risk factor that affects the security of the entire region. At the same time, transportation and energy projects linking Central Asia with South Asia through Afghan territory can turn a challenge into an opportunity. Reducing instability and integrating Afghanistan into regional trade and transit networks serves the interests of all Central Asian states. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as leading forces To understand how closer integration might work in practice, it is useful to examine the strategies of the region’s two key players: Astana and Tashkent. The major agreements concluded by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with the United States in transport and aviation should be viewed not as isolated deals, but as evidence of the complementary strengths of the two largest economies in Central Asia. Kazakhstan signed its largest locomotive contract to date with U.S. company Wabtec, a $4.2 billion agreement for 300 TE33A freight locomotives to be assembled at the Wabtec Kazakhstan plant in Astana, along with servicing support. This will modernize...

Qosh Tepa Canal

Afghanistan’s Qosh Tepa Canal Raises Water Security Fears

Water has long been one of Central Asia’s most contested resources, shaping agriculture, energy policy, and diplomacy across the region. Recently, Afghanistan’s Qosh Tepa Canal project has emerged as a central point in this debate. Promoted by the Taliban as a vital step toward achieving food security and economic growth, the canal also raises alarm bells among downstream neighbors who heavily depend on the Amu Darya River. Now, according to Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, the second phase of the project is expected to be completed within five months, raising further concerns among downstream countries about its potential impact on regional water security. Progress on the Ground In August, the Afghan authorities stated that 93% of the second phase had been completed. Videos show the canal lined with concrete and stone in some sections, alongside the construction of large and medium-sized bridges to link surrounding settlements. The project spans 128 kilometers from Dawlatabad district in Balkh province to Andkhoy district in Faryab province and involves over 60 contractors, making it one of Afghanistan’s largest infrastructure projects. Origins and International Support The canal’s roots trace back to earlier international efforts. While some sources attribute its conceptual origins to Soviet or British engineers in the 1960s, significant development began in 2018 under President Ashraf Ghani. The project was supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Indian engineering firms. According to the Scientific-Information Center of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (SIC ICWC), a $3.6 million feasibility study was launched in Kabul in December 2018, funded by USAID and conducted by AACS Consulting and BETS Consulting Services Ltd. The study was coordinated with several Afghan ministries, but has not been published. Following the Taliban’s takeover, the Islamic Emirate held an official inauguration ceremony on March 30, 2022. The full canal is designed to stretch 285 kilometers, measuring 100 meters wide and 8.5 meters deep, and is expected to divert an estimated six to ten cubic kilometers of water annually from the Amu Darya. Afghan media have quoted water management expert Najibullah Sadid, who projected the canal could generate between $470 million and $550 million in annual revenue. Regional Concerns and Environmental Risks The project has raised alarm in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan, countries that depend heavily on the Amu Darya for irrigation. Experts at SIC ICWC point out that no environmental impact assessment was conducted for downstream states, nor were they formally notified of the construction, as required by international water conventions. In December 2022, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called for practical dialogue with Afghanistan and the international community to strengthen regional water security. Adroit Associates estimates that the canal could eventually divert up to 13 billion cubic meters annually, nearly one-quarter of the Amu Darya’s average flow. Environmental risks are also mounting. Analysts warn that Uzbekistan, which relies heavily on the river for agriculture, could face soil degradation and declining crop yields. Turkmenistan, where agriculture accounts for 12% of GDP, may also suffer severe disruptions. Some studies suggest Uzbekistan and...