Extraordinary determination of 2 World Cup rookies

The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to include 48 participating teams, making dreams come true for many newcomers such as Uzbekistan and Cape Verde.

Two football teams from the Central Asian desert and a small island nation in the middle of the vast Atlantic Ocean tell two different stories but share the same character: Extraordinary determination.

3-decade aspiration

Leaving the Soviet Union in 1991, Uzbekistan has always had the dream of participating in the World Cup. They have come very close to this big arena many times, such as in the 2014 qualifying round, only to stop when facing Jordan in a cruel penalty shootout.

Not willing to give up, Uzbekistan continued to invest strategically, quietly and persistently, for the World Cup journey. The policy of developing youth football was promoted by Uzbekistan since the early 2010s, with the upgrading of the national football academy and the encouragement of players to play abroad. Many young players such as Eldor Shomurodov, Jaloliddin Masharipov or Oston Urunov have grown up in that environment.

Surpassing many teams that were rated much higher, Cape Verde will participate in the 2026 World Cup. Photo: GULF TIMES

In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Uzbekistan presented a cohesive, disciplined team with its own identity instead of relying on individual stars. Their success is a testament to their perseverance - a country with a developing economy , not abundant in sports resources but still knows how to accumulate step by step to rise up. For the Uzbeks, a ticket to the 2026 World Cup is not only a sporting victory but also an affirmation of the new status of the once forgotten Central Asian country.

Miracle in the Atlantic

Halfway around the world, Cape Verde - a country of just over 500,000 people - writes a colorful fairy tale story. For decades, this small island nation was known only for music and fishermen making a living at sea. However, football - thought to be just a weekend pastime - has become a source of national pride.

Cape Verde does not have many modern stadiums, does not have a strong championship and most of the players were born or raised in Europe. However, the diaspora community is an invaluable resource. They bring the fighting spirit of their homeland to each African qualifying match, surpassing the "big guy" Cameroon, who has participated in the World Cup 8 times, or opponents that are rated much higher such as Libya, Angola...

When the final whistle blew at the end of the match against Eswatini in the early morning of October 14, the entire island nation of just over 4,000 square kilometers exploded. From the sandy beaches of Santiago to the capital Praia, people poured into the streets to celebrate. For them, the World Cup is not only a sporting arena but also a dream to be known to the world, to be proud that a small country can still do great things.

With the participation of Uzbekistan and Cape Verde, the 2026 World Cup will therefore not only feature "giants" competing for hegemony but also inspirational stories. There, the flag of the desert nation of Uzbekistan will fly over the snow-white land of North America. The cheerful folk tunes of Cape Verde, accompanied by the sound of ocean waves, will also resound on the world stage.

Uzbekistan reached the 2026 World Cup with the tenacity of the boundless belief that "where there is a will, there is a way", while Cape Verde reached the big stage with the miracle of national unity. A parched country in the desert, a small island in the ocean - both proved that football is still a sport for dreamers, refusing to surrender in the face of adversity.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nghi-luc-phi-thuong-cua-2-tan-binh-world-cup-196251014220254574.htm