Three Uzbek match officials — Asker Najafaliev, Bakhtiyorkhodja Shavkatov and Avazbek Abdullaev — have been selected to work at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, scheduled to run from Nov. 19 to Dec. 13. According to FIFA’s official list, Najafaliev will serve as a main referee, while Shavkatov and Abdullaev will act as assistant referees. The appointment places the Uzbek trio among 81 officials chosen for the expanded youth tournament and highlights the growing international visibility of Uzbekistan’s refereeing school.
Key Takeaways: FIFA has selected 81 match officials from 36 football associations for the U-17 World Cup, including 27 referees and 54 assistant referees. Uzbekistan is represented by Asker Najafaliev as referee and Bakhtiyorkhodja Shavkatov and Avazbek Abdullaev as assistants. The tournament in Qatar will feature 48 national youth teams, reflecting the wider scale of the competition and the broad selection of match officials.
Context & Background: The selection comes as FIFA has expanded the U-17 World Cup to 48 teams and moved to an annual format, increasing the number of matches and the demand for experienced officials. Qatar, which has hosted major football events, is preparing to stage the tournament at a high organizational level. For Uzbekistan, the appointment of three referees reflects the country’s continued integration into international football structures and the growing recognition of its refereeing school. In recent years, Uzbek officials have appeared more frequently at FIFA and AFC competitions.
FIFA’s list includes 27 referees and 54 assistant referees, a total of 81 officials representing 36 associations. The tournament in Qatar, with 48 teams, is the second edition in the annual and expanded format, according to the source. FIFA places particular emphasis on referees’ preparation, physical condition and knowledge of the laws of the game. For the Uzbek officials, the experience could be an important step toward future international appointments.
As the tournament approaches, the Uzbek referees are expected to undergo preparation in line with FIFA requirements and take part in match officiating. Their performance will be assessed by FIFA observers during the competition. Earlier reports noted that Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev had been appointed to the Scotland–Morocco match linked to the 2026 World Cup cycle. Further FIFA and AFC referee lists for upcoming international tournaments are expected to be announced in the coming months.
Source: podrobno.uz