We Went to Uzbekistan for Their First Ever World Cup Game

The teams who qualify every time will never feel a World Cup the way Uzbekistan felt this one. The longer the wait, the purer the joy when it finally comes.

For decades they fell at the final hurdle so often it became a punchline. Asia's chokers. Then in 2026 the White Wolves finally broke through to their first ever World Cup.

In episode two of The World's Cup, Eli Mengem went to Tashkent to be there for it. Through the bazaars and backstreets, with the fans, in the hours before their opening game against Colombia.

As the rain fell on the Azteca in Mexico City, thousands gathered in front of giant screens at the Milliy Stadium for a sunrise kick-off. The result barely mattered.

After a lifetime of waiting, they were finally there.Because a World Cup doesn't belong to the players on the pitch or the city hosting the game. It belongs to the country that waited a lifetime to see its flag there.

This is The World's Cup. Next stop, Haiti via New York City.

0:00 – The World's Cup
1:00 – Where is Uzbekistan?
2:30 – Uzbekistan. & football
3:00 – Uzbeki football heritage
6:00 – Eli tries local food and drink
8:00 – Pre match predictions
10:00 – The game