Historic Moment Ignites Frenzy: Entire Nation on Edge, Work Postponed for World Cup

The match kicks off at 7:00 AM Uzbek time (three hours earlier in Slovakia), and thousands are expected to gather around giant screens, televisions, and smartphones to witness a football match unlike any in their nation's history.

“In the heart of every Uzbek, watching football is a matter of pride and honor,” stated Bahrom Aminov, an official from Uzbekistan's Ministry of Education, to Euronews.com.

As many as 208 selected schools across the country will host public viewings of the Uzbekistan vs. Colombia match, welcoming not only students but also their parents, teachers, and other local residents. In Tashkent, a city of three million, fan zones have been set up in all 12 districts, including a large public cinema at the Bunyodkor Stadium with a capacity of up to 10,000 spectators.

“We want shared football viewing to become a true community experience for many people,” reads a statement from the directors of the aforementioned schools. “Teachers, students, and local residents are all free to come and watch the match on big screens. We are very happy to gather with our friends and share the joy of football together,” Aminov, the ministerial spokesperson, concluded.

Uzbekistan is buzzing with anticipation in the final hours before kickoff. Not only students in schools, but also their parents at work and grandparents in nursing homes are literally counting down the hours and minutes until the match begins. Many hold national flags, team merchandise, or simply images of the white wolf Bek, the official mascot of the Uzbek team.

Among those preparing for the exceptional Thursday morning is Malik Karimov, Marketing Director for the Korzinka supermarket chain and an official partner of the Uzbekistan Football Association. He told Euronews that many companies plan to watch the match together before employees start their workday, or have even shifted their start time back by two hours.

“As a leading food retailer, we couldn't stand by. The advantage of being an official partner of the Uzbekistan Football Association is that we are directly involved in preparing fan zones and collaborating with local communities. We've also prepared special food prices during our team's matches. We've produced and started selling official merchandise so that every child and every person in the regions can support our national team,” Karimov stated.

“Our qualification for the World Cup is already a huge success. We have nothing to lose there, but much to gain. Every goal scored or point earned will be a tremendous boost for the younger generation to get involved in football. We believe that in the future, we will be regular participants in the World Cup,” Karimov added.

Uzbekistan ranks 50th in the FIFA rankings, while their first opponent, Colombia, is 13th. The Central Asian footballers will then face the Democratic Republic of Congo and the biggest favorite in Group K, Portugal. “We are ready to positively shake up the usual assumptions and face even the biggest giants. We certainly have nothing to lose,” said Uzbek coach Fabio Cannavaro.

The 2006 Italian World Cup winner didn't forget to thank the fans in advance for their immense trust and support. One fan told EuroNews, addressing the players: “You have united our entire country. The World Cup will be watched by everyone from seven to 70. You are already our winners. If we all want it badly enough, we will get out of the group stage and into the knockout rounds.”