Tashkent:Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), held discussions with key Uzbek officials during his visit to Tashkent. He met with Bakhodir Kurbanov, President of the Uzbekistan Football Association, and Adkham Ikramov, Minister of Sports of Uzbekistan.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the discussions focused on enhancing technical, administrative, and organizational cooperation. The parties also addressed Uzbekistan's preparations to host the AFC U17 Asian Cup in 2027 and the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2029.
Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim praised the development of Uzbekistan's football infrastructure and acknowledged its experience in organizing continental competitions. The meeting included a review of the AFC's Equal Pitch programme, which facilitated the construction of artificial football pitches in Tashkent and Samarkand, and examined plans for hosting the AFC Football Administration Certificate (AFCAM) programme in 2027.
Additionally, the AFC delegation toured the National Football Centre, including its video assistant referee (VAR) facilities and medical centre, inspected a stadium under construction in New Tashkent, and visited the Olympic Village, which spans more than 100 hectares.