Uzbekistan’s football scene used to be mostly about the men’s side, the "White Wolves," and their agonizingly close misses for World Cup qualification. But honestly? Things have shifted. If you haven't been watching uzbekistan women's national football team games lately, you’ve basically been missing out on one of the most aggressive growth spurts in Asian sports. They aren't just participating anymore. They’re winning.
Last July, the atmosphere at the Milliy Stadium in Tashkent was something else. It wasn't just a game; it was a survival test. Facing Nepal in a do-or-die qualifier for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, the Uzbek side saw a comfortable lead evaporate into a 3-3 draw. Most teams would’ve crumbled. Instead, they dug in, took it to penalties, and clinched a 4-2 shootout win.
That single victory ended a 23-year drought. They’re back in the big leagues.
The road to the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup
Getting to the top 12 in Asia is no joke. The path for Uzbekistan was paved with some pretty lopsided scorelines that showed just how much the gap has widened between them and the lower-tier regional teams.
They absolutely dismantled Sri Lanka 10-0. Then they cruised past Laos 7-0. It’s easy to dismiss these as "easy games," but for a program that spent years in the shadows, these blowouts are proof of clinical efficiency.
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The upcoming schedule is where the real "trial by fire" happens. Uzbekistan has been drawn into a brutal Group B for the 2026 finals in Australia. We're talking about games against North Korea and China.
- March 2, 2026: vs North Korea
- March 6, 2026: vs China
- March 9, 2026: vs Bangladesh
North Korea is a powerhouse. China is legendary. Most experts expect Uzbekistan to struggle here, but head coach Kotryna Kulbytė isn't exactly the type to play for a draw. She’s been vocal about the fact that if their goal wasn't the World Cup, they wouldn't even be bothering to show up.
Why the FIFA ranking actually matters now
In December 2025, Uzbekistan climbed to 49th in the FIFA World Rankings. That might not sound like much compared to Spain or the US, but it makes them the undisputed leaders of Central Asia. They’ve leapfrogged Kazakhstan (113th) and left neighbors like Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in the dust.
Success like this doesn't happen by accident. The Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA) has actually started putting money where their mouth is. They’ve been organizing friendlies against teams like Belarus and India, and even participating in the Pink Ladies Cup in the UAE. They are getting the "miles in the legs" that they lacked for decades.
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The stars of the uzbekistan women's national football team games
You can’t talk about this team without mentioning Lyudmila Karachik. She’s the veteran. The anchor. With 33 international goals, she’s the all-time leading scorer and the person every young girl in Tashkent wants to be.
Then there’s Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva. If Karachik is the legend, Khabibullaeva is the current lightning bolt. She’s been tearing up the domestic league with Sogdiana-W, scoring 60 goals in a single season back in 2023. She’s quick, she’s physical, and she has this weird knack for being in the right place when a rebound drops.
Watching her in uzbekistan women's national football team games is a lesson in persistence. Even when the team is down, she’s usually the one sprinting at defenders in the 89th minute.
The defensive wall
Maftuna Jonimqulova, the 26-year-old goalkeeper, has become a household name after that Nepal shootout. Penalty shootouts are 50% luck and 50% psychological warfare. Jonimqulova won the mental battle that day.
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Behind her, the defensive line led by Nafisa Nabikulova has become much more disciplined. Gone are the days when they’d concede 17 goals to Japan (yes, that really happened in 1995). Modern Uzbek football is built on a much sturdier foundation.
What to expect in 2026 and beyond
The 2026 Asian Cup is the benchmark. If they can somehow sneak a point off China or North Korea, it would be a massive statement. But honestly, the real goal is the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The path is narrow. Asia has a limited number of slots, and the "Big Four" (Australia, Japan, China, South Korea) usually bogart most of them. But with the World Cup expanding, there’s a window.
One thing is for sure: the days of ignoring women’s football in Uzbekistan are over. You see the crowds growing. You see the highlights on national TV.
If you want to follow the progress, keep an eye on the results from the Australia tournament this March. It’s going to be the toughest test this generation of players has ever faced.
Next steps for fans and observers:
- Mark your calendars for the March 2nd opener against North Korea; it will define their tournament momentum.
- Monitor the domestic league (Uzbekistan Women's League) results, particularly Sevinch and Sogdiana-W, as these clubs provide 90% of the national roster.
- Watch the FIFA rankings in June 2026 to see if the Asian Cup performance translates into a climb toward the top 40.