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Portuguese football coach Paulo Bento has reportedly declined an offer to lead Uzbekistan’s national team, despite the country’s historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to the Portuguese sports daily A BOLA, the 56-year-old coach turned down the proposal from the Uzbekistan Football Association, stating that the terms did not align with his current career plans. Bento, who was dismissed as head coach of the United Arab Emirates in March 2024, is still available on the international coaching market. His departure from the UAE team came as a surprise, particularly since the squad remained in contention for what could have been its first-ever World Cup appearance. Bento previously managed the Portuguese national team from 2010 to 2014, leading them through UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. More recently, he coached South Korea at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Uzbekistan’s reported interest in Bento reflects the country’s broader ambitions to elevate its football program ahead of its World Cup debut in 2026. The national team secured qualification earlier this year, marking a landmark achievement. Officials have emphasized ongoing reforms within the country’s football infrastructure, with goals to professionalize the domestic league and enhance international competitiveness.
The Tajik Football Federation (TFF) has signed a contract with Spanish coach Claudio Garcia Lara, who has experience working in soccer academies in Spain, England, China, and India. The agreement was made as part of a joint project between the Football Federation of Tajikistan and FIFA's "FIFA Talent Development Scheme" within the "FIFA Talent Coaching" program. UEFA Pro license holder Garcia Lara will work in Tajikistan for two years. He is now coaching the U-14 team, preparing it for tournaments under the auspices of the Asian Football Confederation and the Central Asian Football Association. According to Uvaido Davlatbekov, technical director of the Tajik Football Federation, 27 players from different regions were invited to the U-14 team. The young players train, study, and live at the Istiklol Football Academy in the Almosi settlement of Gissar. The “FIFA Talent Coach” program is designed to occur over two years. The Spanish specialist works with Tajik coaches, and the program's goals are to identify and develop talents and attract the best specialists to work with gifted players. "The project also includes activities to find talented players nationwide and coaching seminars,” Davlatbekov explained. The Tajikistan Football Federation is actively implementing FIFA's Talent Development Scheme, a program to identify and develop young talent. In 2023, following FIFA's recommendations, a technical development program was created, extending until 2026. This program includes identifying players aged 12 to 16 and conducting seminars for youth and women's soccer coaches. The selected players form the core of the Tajikistan U-16 national youth team, which has won CAFA tournaments for two consecutive years.
