Abbosbek Fayzullaev etched his name into Uzbekistan’s sporting history on June 18 by scoring the nation’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal. The 22-year-old midfielder equalized against Colombia in the 60th minute at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, though Uzbekistan ultimately fell 1-2 in its tournament debut.
Colombia’s Daniel Muñoz and Luis Díaz secured the win.
A country with crypto laws but no crypto sports
Uzbekistan legalized stablecoins and established a tokenized securities sandbox effective January 1, 2026. Yet the national football team has no fan tokens, no NFT collections, and no blockchain sponsorships.
Uzbekistan is playing in Group K alongside Colombia, Portugal, and DR Congo. Fayzullaev transferred to İstanbul Başakşehir in 2025 for a reported record fee of £7 million. A World Cup goal on debut only amplifies that profile.
