It wasn’t just Uzbekistan’s first-ever qualification; it was actually Central Asia’s first-ever World Cup appearance. Uzbekistan didn’t really stand a chance against Ronaldo and the Portuguese team, but they certainly had hope and self-confidence.

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In the spacious garden of the Uzbek Embassy on Perleberger Straße, the event was about more than just watching the game. Ambassador Dilshod Akhatov joined the public viewing guests at his embassy just before kickoff—immediately following Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s visit to Tashkent. In his welcoming remarks, the ambassador was able to report on this official visit by the German head of state, including the joint declaration on expanding multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

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The focus was on the economy. Another agreement was signed on financial cooperation, which provides for grants and low-interest financing for sustainable urban development projects. In addition, the launch of several investment projects was announced, notably the large-scale assembly plant for Volkswagen in Tashkent, the construction of a Rhenus logistics center in the Andijan region, the production of liquid household cleaning products, as well as the training of skilled workers in the railway sector and the opening of testing and certification centers.

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Ambassador Akhatov also reported on the International Investment Forum, which had just taken place in Tashkent and which has nearly quadrupled the international participation of renowned entrepreneurs over the past five years. This demonstrates the growing international interest in investment.

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For him and his compatriots, Tuesday was "a historic day." "Our national team's first-time participation is a milestone in our country's history."  

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And for Christian Görke, a member of the Bundestag, the evening presented a dilemma. The Left Party politician is both chair of the German-Central Asian Parliamentary Group and vice chair of the German-Portuguese Parliamentary Group. Ultimately, the match ended 5–0 in Portugal’s favor, but this did not detract from the “soccer diplomacy” event, which was attended by many guests from other embassies.

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