Social Sciences
| Open Access |
DOI: Sport Diplomacy of Uzbekistan: The Global Integration Process of The Football Federation (1992–2025)
Ergashev Ahmad Abdug‘offorovich , History Teacher, Surkhandarya Campus of Navoi Innovations University, Shurchi, UzbekistanAbstract
This article examines the global integration of Uzbekistan's football during the years of independence through the prisms of sports diplomacy and institutional transformation. The study analyzes the formation of the national governing body after 1991, its membership in FIFA and the AFC, and its strategic global standing by 2025 using a legal-documentary approach. Football is interpreted as a "soft power" tool that enhances Uzbekistan's international political prestige.
The research highlights the legal foundations of the federation's establishment in 1992, the reforms initiated by the 2009 government decree, and its rebranding as the Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA) on January 25, 2018. Furthermore, the creation of CAFA in 2015 and the historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup in 2025 are analyzed from a cause-and-effect perspective. The success of sports diplomacy is attributed to state support, economic investments, and the alignment of national legislation with international standards. The article concludes with practical recommendations for the development of the national sports brand.
Keywords
Global integration, institutional transformation, Soft power
References
I. Official Documents and Legal Acts
O‘zbekiston Respublikasi. (2015). Jismoniy tarbiya va sport to‘g‘risida Qonun [Law on Physical Culture and Sports] (New edition, 4 September 2015). Toshkent: O‘zbekiston Respublikasi Oliy Majlisi.
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O‘zbekiston Respublikasi Vazirlar Mahkamasi. (2009). Hududiy futbol assotsiatsiyalari faoliyatini tashkil etish va moliyalashtirish chora-tadbirlari to‘g‘risida Qaror [Resolution on Measures to Organize and Finance the Activities of Regional Football Associations], 3 December 2009, No. 304.
O‘zbekiston futbol assotsiatsiyasi. (2021). Ustav (yangi tahrir) [Charter, new edition]. Approved by the OFA Congress, 26 December 2020, and re-registered by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 23 February 2021, No. 481p. Toshkent.
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III. Foreign Research Publications and International Organizations
Shelat, N. (2025). Dawn of the White Wolves: The Rise of Uzbekistan Football. Scouted Football. [Online resource].
FIFA. (2024). FIFA Statutes (2024 edition). Zurich: FIFA.
Asian Football Confederation. (2023). AFC Statutes and Regulations. Kuala Lumpur: AFC.
Central Asian Football Association. (2024). CAFA Official Handbook and Statutes. Tashkent: CAFA.
The Emergence of the Sport of Football: A Case Study of Uzbekistan. (2024). International Journal of Sports Sciences, 12(2), 332–340.
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