UEFA - The Times Of Central Asia

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Abdukodir Khusanov

Researchers Name Abdukodir Khusanov Fastest Center Back in Champions League

Uzbekistan national team defender Abdukodir Khusanov has been ranked the fastest central defender currently competing in the UEFA Champions League, according to new data released by the CIES Football Observatory. The Switzerland-based research group published its latest Weekly Post featuring exclusive Gradient data on running speeds among players whose clubs remain in the competition. The report analyzed maximum speeds and distance covered across different speed categories for five positional groups. Khusanov, who plays for Manchester City, recorded a top speed of 35.8 kilometers per hour, placing him first among center backs. He finished ahead of Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven in the same category. The CIES report also highlighted the fastest players in other positions. Among full-backs, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes led the rankings, while Archie Gray topped the central midfield category. Anthony Gordon was the fastest among wide midfielders and wingers, and Kylian Mbappé led among center forwards. The data further examined how players distributed their movement across different speed ranges. Among the 100 players analyzed, Mbappé, Victor Osimhen, and Luis Suárez covered the highest proportion of distance at walking pace, defined as below 7 kilometers per hour. In contrast, central midfielders Häkon Evjen, João Simões, and Lucas Bergvall recorded the lowest share of walking distance. Earlier this month, the 21-year-old Khusanov was named Manchester City’s Player of the Month for January after winning a fan vote by a wide margin. The club praised his composure and tactical discipline, noting that his decision-making under pressure stood out during seven appearances across competitions.

Sports

Kazakhstan vs. Uzbekistan: A Footballing Derby with an Uncertain Outcome

The Uzbekistan national football team has qualified for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place across three North American countries: the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Meanwhile, one of Kazakhstan’s leading clubs, FC Kairat Almaty, continues to gain experience competing in the UEFA Champions League. Football in Central Asia has become a mirror of the region’s growing economic and political ambitions, with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan at the forefront. Their rivalry, which dates back to the Soviet era, has adapted to this new chapter. Kazakhstan and the Road to Europe Matches between Almaty's Kairat and Tashkent's Pakhtakor were once marquee events during the Soviet era, filling stadiums and energizing fans across the republics. Following the collapse of the USSR, however, the footballing paths of these two historical rivals began to diverge. Initially, both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan joined the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which includes countries from across Asia and parts of the Pacific, including former Oceania Football Confederation members such as Australia and Guam. Kazakhstan became a full member of the AFC in 1992, followed by Uzbekistan in 1994. However, Kazakhstan soon grew disillusioned with the level of competition within the AFC and began to explore other avenues. Its early attempts to join UEFA were rebuffed in the mid-1990s. Rakhat Aliyev, then head of the Football Union of Kazakhstan and son-in-law of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev, later described the process as being dismissed “without really getting to the heart of the matter.” Despite this, both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan quickly showed they were a cut above most AFC members at the time. Kazakhstan won the inaugural Central Asian Cup in 1992, while Uzbekistan claimed gold at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, defeating China 4-2 in the final. Eventually, Kazakhstan succeeded in joining UEFA. Spearheaded by Aliyev, the Football Union of Kazakhstan (FSC) lobbied hard for admission, culminating in meetings with FIFA and UEFA presidents Lennart Johansson and Joseph Blatter in Moscow in late 2000 and early 2001. The AFC issued a statement on May 10, 2001, allowing Kazakhstan to make its own decision, and five days later Johansson confirmed that UEFA would welcome Kazakhstan as its 52nd member. "Joining UEFA has given all of us who work in football a powerful boost," Aliyev said at the time. "We will strive to use this momentum to raise the level of our national football." Uzbekistan and the Central Asian Football Association Unlike Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan chose to remain in the AFC, where it has steadily risen in prominence. In 2014, it became a founding member of the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA), a regional sub-group within the AFC. Officially operational since 2015, CAFA also includes Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The organization is currently chaired by Rustam Emomali, son of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. Uzbekistan is ranked second in the CAFA, behind Iran, and has consistently reached the quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Cup in 2004, 2007, 2015, and 2023. Much of this success is due to sustained investment in youth development, training...

Sports

Future Chelsea Player Satpaev Seals Second Consecutive Title for Kairat

Almaty's Kairat Football Club has secured its second consecutive Kazakhstan Premier League (KPL) championship. The decisive goal in the final match was scored by Kazakhstan national team striker Dastan Satpaev, currently on contract with London’s Chelsea. Last year, Kairat won the national championship for the fourth time in its history. This summer, the club qualified for the UEFA Champions’ League group stage for the first time, intensifying pressure on the team as it competed simultaneously in both domestic and European tournaments. Entering the final round, Kairat held a narrow two-point lead over its closest challenger, FC Astana. Fittingly, the season concluded with a high-stakes home match against the capital’s team. The match took place on Sunday, October 26. Despite Kairat’s territorial dominance, Astana struck first, 38-year-old midfielder Marin Tomasov scored in the 15th minute with a well-placed shot from the penalty area. The visitors threatened further, but Kairat goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov delivered several crucial saves to keep the deficit at one. In the second half, Satpaev, who will join Chelsea after he turns 18, scored the equalizer, making it 1-1. The draw was enough to keep Kairat ahead in the standings, two points clear of Astana, and clinch the club’s fifth national title. Tomasov nearly scored a second goal during stoppage time, but his shot struck the crossbar. With this result, Kairat became only the seventh club in KPL history to successfully defend its title. The league’s record for consecutive championships belongs to Astana, who won six straight from 2014 to 2019. Aktobe followed with a three-peat (2007–2009), while Yelimay (1994-1995), Zhenis (2000-2001), Irtysh (2002-2003), and Shakhtar Karagandy (2011-2012) each managed two. Between 2020 and 2024, no team had retained the championship, until now. “There were certainly difficulties during the season, primarily the struggle on several fronts,” said Kairat head coach Rafael Urazbakhtin after the match. He noted that frequent squad rotation, a demanding schedule, and long-distance travel forced the coaching staff to carefully manage the squad’s physical condition. “Over time, the team adapted to the rhythm of two or three matches a week. Endurance and teamwork became key factors,” he added. Kairat’s attention now shifts back to the Champions League, where the club sits in last place in its group with one point from three matches. The next fixture is on November 5 in Milan against second-placed Inter. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kairat’s Champions League breakthrough was made possible in part by Anarbekov’s standout performance in a penalty shootout victory over Scotland’s Celtic.

Sports

Mbappé Shines as Real Madrid Rout Kairat in Almaty

French forward Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick in Kazakhstan last night, as Real Madrid overwhelmed Almaty’s Kairat in a UEFA Champions’ League group-stage match. The game drew massive attention in Kazakhstan and beyond. Yet despite the 5-0 defeat, it was 18-year-old Kairat goalkeeper Sherkhan Kalmurza who earned plaudits for his valiant performance against the Spanish giants. Held on September 30 at Almaty’s Central Stadium, the match became the most attended football event in Kazakhstan in recent years. With a stadium capacity of 23,800, organizers reported 99% attendance, including around 5,000 fans from abroad, not only from Spain, but also from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. Several thousand more were left outside the gates, prompting police to intervene to prevent overcrowding. In a creative twist, a local mobile operator arranged an “extra-tribune” on a nearby apartment balcony, offering ten lucky subscribers an elevated view of the game. The anticipation around the match spiked when Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso opted to bring his full squad, contrary to expectations that reserves would be fielded. The decision proved decisive. Kairat nearly stunned the visitors early on when forward Dastan Satpayev, on loan from Chelsea, forced Thibaut Courtois into a reflex save with a powerful header. But Real quickly assumed control. After a string of early saves by Kalmurza, Mbappé opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 24th minute. The young goalkeeper held firm through the rest of the first half, but the second period saw Real’s firepower overwhelm Kairat. Mbappé added two more goals to complete his hat-trick, while Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Díaz also found the net both assisted by Rodrygo. Kairat had a fleeting chance to pull one back in the 67th minute when Valery Gromyko earned a penalty. However, Italian referee Marco Guida overturned the decision after a VAR review. Speaking after the match, Alonso praised Kairat’s opening effort: “This team deserves to play in the Champions League. The atmosphere was incredible. I wish Kairat all the best.” Kairat head coach Rafael Urazbakhtin acknowledged the quality gap: “We are in different weight categories. But we gained invaluable experience playing at such speed. Real’s counterattacks were simply crazy.” The evening produced three standout performers: Mbappé with a hat-trick, Rodrygo with three assists, and Kalmurza, whose string of saves against world-class opponents earned him praise across social media. His Instagram following more than doubled overnight, from 89,000 to 172,000. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kairat’s journey to the group stage was largely secured by backup goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov, who stepped in for the injured Alexander Zarutsky during the August qualifiers. However, ahead of the group stage, Anarbekov suffered a broken jaw in a domestic league match, while Zarutsky had only just returned to training. The responsibility fell to 18-year-old Kalmurza, who seized his moment on European football’s biggest stage.

Sports

Astana to Host 2027 UEFA Under-19 Futsal European Championship

Astana has been selected to host the 2027 UEFA Under-19 Futsal European Championship, marking the first time Kazakhstan will stage a youth futsal tournament at this level. The decision was announced during a UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Tirana, Albania. According to the Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF), the joint bid submitted by the KFF and the Kazakhstan Futsal Association received UEFA’s approval, granting Astana the right to organize the final tournament. The matches are tentatively scheduled to take place from September 26 to October 3, 2027, at the Zhekpe Zhek Sports Palace in the capital. Launched in 2019, the UEFA Under-19 Futsal Championship has been held every two years. The inaugural edition was held in Latvia's capital Riga, followed by tournaments in Spain (Jaén, 2022) and Croatia (2023). The 2025 edition is set to take place in Chișinău, Moldova, from September 28 to October 5. The final tournament features eight teams: the host nation and seven group winners from the qualification rounds. The lineup for Euro 2025 includes Moldova, Ukraine, Slovenia, Czechia, Turkey, Spain, Italy, and Portugal, the defending champions. Spain previously claimed back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2022. For Kazakhstan’s U-19 team, Euro 2027 will mark their debut in the finals, as host nations qualify automatically. While the youth squad has yet to make an international impact, the senior national futsal team has built a strong reputation. Kazakhstan secured bronze at Euro 2016 in Belgrade, reached the semifinals again in Slovenia in 2018, and advanced to the quarterfinals at Euro 2022 in the Netherlands. The senior team is currently competing for a spot in Euro 2026, which will be co-hosted by Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovenia. After missing direct qualification, Kazakhstan will face Italy in play-off matches on September 18 (away) and September 23 (home in Astana). Despite generational changes, naturalized Brazilian players such as Leo Higuita, Douglas Junior, and Edson continue to play key roles. Earlier this year, Kazakhstan introduced a legislative ban on the use of public funds to pay foreign athletes. Hosting Euro 2027 represents a significant milestone in Kazakhstan’s efforts to promote youth sports and strengthen its standing in European futsal. UEFA’s decision highlights the country’s growing role in international sport and provides a platform for the next generation of Kazakh futsal players to compete at the highest level.

Sports

Real Madrid to Play Kairat in Almaty in UEFA Champions League

Almaty’s Kairat will face European giants, including 15-time champions Real Madrid, in the UEFA Champions League group stage, marking a historic milestone for the Kazakh club. Kairat has never before reached this phase of the competition. Earlier this summer, the club became only the second team from Kazakhstan, after Astana, to qualify for the group stage by overcoming four rounds of qualifiers. Prior to the August 28 draw, head coach Rafael Urazbakhtin expressed a wish to be grouped with Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Liverpool. The draw delivered on one of those wishes: Kairat will now face Real Madrid, the most decorated club in European football history. Also in their group are Inter Milan, three-time Champions League winners, and Arsenal, a top English club with 13 domestic league titles but still seeking their first Champions League crown. Kairat's group stage schedule includes away matches against Sporting Lisbon and Copenhagen, while they will host Belgium’s Club Brugge, Greece’s Olympiacos, and Cyprus’s Pafos in Almaty. The group stage will be played between late September 2025 and the end of January 2026. “We are delighted to be playing Real Madrid. It's not often that such a club comes to Kazakhstan,” said Urazbakhtin. He acknowledged the disparity in skill levels but emphasized the importance of home support and maximizing their advantage in Almaty. A total of 36 clubs are competing in this season’s group stage. Each team plays eight matches, four home and four away, against different opponents. The top eight teams overall will advance directly to the playoffs, while clubs ranked 9th to 24th will enter a playoff round in February 2026 to fight for the remaining spots in the round of 16. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kairat earned their Champions League berth after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Celtic, with reserve goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov playing a decisive role in the victory.