AGP Executive Report

World Cup Focus (Uzbekistan): Portugal and Uzbekistan meet in Houston on Tuesday as Roberto Martínez insists his squad is “united” after a 1-1 opener vs DR Congo left Cristiano Ronaldo under intense scrutiny; with Ruben Dias expected back in defense, Portugal are chasing their first win and a quick reset ahead of a tougher final group game vs Colombia. Matchday Guide: Tuesday’s key games include England vs Ghana, Panama vs Croatia, and Colombia vs DR Congo, with Portugal–Uzbekistan kicking off at 1 p.m. ET (Houston). Digital Government (Uzbekistan–Korea): Tashkent hosted a Uzbekistan–South Korea public administration forum focused on AI in government services, disaster management tech, cybersecurity, IT outsourcing, and digital education. Energy & Investment: Uzbekistan is pushing to bring more major European and US firms into its gas sector via production-sharing deals, after BP’s recent investment. Water PPP: Saudi firm Miahona signed a 25-year PPP for the Zomin Water Treatment Plant in Jizzakh, valued at about $105m, with operations targeted for Q1 2027. Diplomatic Update: Uzbekistan’s President Mirziyoyev is set to visit Belarus on July 8–9 for high-level talks.

World Cup Focus (Uzbekistan): Uzbekistan’s World Cup debut is reaching its biggest test as Fabio Cannavaro’s side prepare for the next Group K challenge after the 3-1 loss to Colombia, with the match against Portugal in Houston now the key moment for their campaign. Portugal Pressure: Portugal return to Houston after a frustrating 1-1 draw with DR Congo, where they dominated possession but managed only one shot on target, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo and Roberto Martinez under pressure to turn control into goals. Match Details: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan kicks off Tuesday June 23 at 12 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium, with Jalal Jayed (Morocco) set to referee; fans in Bishkek will also watch via a city-organized fan zone with live broadcast and temporary traffic restrictions. Group K Stakes: Colombia’s win over Uzbekistan means Portugal must win to keep their knockout hopes alive, while Uzbekistan need a sharper defensive showing than in their opener. Diplomacy & Culture: At the Great Heritage, Shared Future forum in Brest, Yerlan Koshanov urged preserving historical memory and honoring sacrifices tied to the Brest Fortress.

World Cup Focus: Portugal head into their Group K clash with Uzbekistan in Houston after a shaky 1-1 opener vs DR Congo, with Cristiano Ronaldo under fresh scrutiny; teammate Francisco Conceicao insists the team isn’t “obligated” to feed Ronaldo and says decisions are based on who’s best placed, while betting chatter points to Bekhruz Karimov as a key Uzbekistan attacking outlet. Central Bank & Living Costs: Uzbekistan’s Central Bank survey shows public reliance on formal salaries remains high (66%), with 68% expecting income to rise and 77% anticipating higher future spending—signs of cautious optimism despite uneven expectations across income groups. Transport & Environment: Uzbekistan plans a 2026 vehicle scrappage buyback for cars older than 30 years, offering owners cash or electronic vouchers toward new domestically made vehicles, aiming to cut pollution from aging transport. Regional Cooperation: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan met in Bishkek on water-energy security, agreeing on practical coordination for the coming seasons. Investment & Industry: EBRD approved a $25M push for Uzbekistan’s steel modernization with energy-efficiency upgrades to cut gas use and boost competitiveness.

World Cup Focus: Portugal head into their Group K clash with Uzbekistan in Houston after a 1-1 opener vs DR Congo, with Francisco Conceição insisting there’s “no obligation” to pass to Cristiano Ronaldo and saying Portugal will attack whoever is best placed. Group K Watch: Uzbekistan’s World Cup debut continues to draw attention after their 3-1 loss to Colombia, while Portugal must win to stay in contention. Uzbekistan Football Boost: The Central Bank has issued commemorative coins for Uzbekistan’s 2026 World Cup debut—100 gold and 1,000 silver—available from June 18 across 690 branches. TIIF 2026 & Privatisation: Uzbekistan’s privatisation push is gaining momentum, highlighted by a major strategic sale and the country’s first international stock market listing. Financial Crime Alert: A new “SEVEN JADE” pyramid scheme is reportedly using official Tax Committee VAT and LLC registration documents to mislead citizens. Investment & Trade: Qatar Free Zones Authority’s CEO met Uzbekistan’s investment minister to discuss attracting Uzbek firms to Qatar’s free zones; meanwhile, Saudi’s Miahona signed a 25-year water treatment PPP for Jizzakh’s Zamin plant. Sports Business: Uzbekistan’s World Cup momentum also shows up in global interest, with TIIF coverage noting credit agencies and development banks racing to fill financing gaps.

Uzbek-Korea Business Push: At the Korea-Uzbekistan Business Forum in Tashkent, officials and lawmakers backed deeper ties beyond infrastructure—into supply chains, AI, robotics, and culture—while highlighting Uzbekistan’s reforms and EU GSP+ export access. New Tashkent & Smart Projects: The “New Tashkent” urban project was pitched as a 20,000-hectare, 2-million-resident future admin and business hub, with Korean firms eyeing jobs and landmark districts. Transport Modernization: South Korea’s Incheon Airport operator and KIND discussed airport expansion plans (including New Tashkent) and Urgench upgrades, alongside broader logistics and aviation ambitions. Digital & AI Tools: IT Park incentives and AI “digital twin” solutions were promoted as a way for global companies to enter Uzbekistan faster. Green & Data Infrastructure: Saudi DataVolt secured $150m financing for a 12MW Tashkent data centre, part of a larger digital buildout. Textile Value Chain: Uzbekistan’s textile shift from raw cotton to higher-value apparel drew Korean interest, with support programs and export reach emphasized. World Cup Backdrop: The 2026 tournament hit its 100-goal milestone in record pace, while commentary continued on whether the expanded format is truly producing lopsided games.

World Cup Focus: Portugal’s Diogo Dalot pushed back hard on Ronaldo criticism, saying some people are “rooting against” the team and that the squad had even discussed social-media backlash before the tournament. Sports Controversy: Scotland players and fans kept questioning an Uzbek referee’s penalty decisions in the 1-0 loss to Morocco, with claims that the ball was wrongly treated as “going out of play.” Uzbekistan in International Sport: Uzbekistan’s Azizbek Ortikov beat Kyrgyz judoka Kubanychbek Aibek uulu in his first post-Paris appearance, while Uzbekistan also appears in regional fencing results and Asian Championships coverage. Regional Cooperation: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan met in Bishkek to coordinate water and energy planning for the autumn-winter and growing seasons, including joint reservoir and electricity supply management. IMF Watch: The IMF urged Uzbekistan to keep a tight monetary stance and be ready to tighten further if disinflation slows. Public Services: Uzbekistan opened online registration for first-grade enrollment for 2026-2027 via my.maktab.uz and my.gov.uz, with a two-stage catchment-based application process. Justice & Fraud: Prosecutors arrested a fake “senior official” scammer accused of stealing UZS 1.7 billion and luxury assets.

Uzbekistan in World Cup spotlight: Uzbekistan’s Abdukodir Khusanov is among the fastest players so far at FIFA World Cup 2026, clocked at 36.5 km/h, while the tournament’s early chaos also featured an Uzbekistan referee, Ilgiz Tantashev, at Scotland’s 1-0 loss to Morocco. Portugal-Ronaldo fallout: Portugal defender Rúben Dias played down criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo as “insignificant” ahead of the team’s crucial clash vs Uzbekistan, as Ronaldo pushed a message of unity. Regional diplomacy: Afghanistan and Kazakhstan opened a trade and economic forum in Kabul aiming to lift bilateral trade toward $3 billion, with talks focused on banking, transport links, and investment. Central Asia ties: Georgia’s PM said Tbilisi wants deeper Central Asia cooperation to boost its role as a transit corridor, with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan return visits planned for July. Sports beyond football: Uzbekistan’s boxer Radoslav Rosenov won bronze at the Boxing World Cup in China, and Uzbekistan’s presence was also noted in rowing results from Bulgaria.

World Cup Focus: Portugal’s Ruben Dias played down the storm of criticism around Cristiano Ronaldo after a 1-1 draw with DR Congo, calling it “noise” and saying the team is focused on improving ahead of the next match vs Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan in Sports: An Uzbek referee, Ilgiz Tantashev, is set to officiate Scotland vs Morocco at the World Cup, underscoring Uzbekistan’s growing role in international football. Trade & Economy: Uzbekistan’s exports neared $10bn in Jan–Apr 2026, with Russia the top destination, while India and Uzbekistan agreed to deepen trade and aim to double bilateral trade over the next three years by tackling non-tariff barriers. Regional Connectivity: India-bound cargo ships have resumed transit through the Strait of Hormuz after the US ended its blockade of Iranian ports, with Chabahar and the INSTC corridor in focus. Media & Tech: At the SCO Media Forum, officials discussed how algorithms are reshaping journalism and floated ideas for more regional media cooperation and platforms.

World Cup Spotlight: Uzbekistan’s World Cup debut story is still unfolding after Colombia beat Uzbekistan 3-1, with Luis Díaz’s emotional return to the pitch and a standout night for the Colombians. Housing Watch: Tashkent’s May property market moved unevenly—small apartments kept pushing prices up, while larger units saw softer trends. Investment & Digital Push: President Mirziyoyev reviewed 120 new investor proposals aimed at boosting the digital economy and energy, while the Foreign Investors Council framed them around reforms in investment, tax, banking, governance, and AI. Regional Finance: The European Investment Bank opened a Central Asia regional office in Tashkent to support transport, energy, water, and digital connectivity projects. Trade Links: Uzbekistan and Iraq launched a joint business council at TIIF to speed up private-sector cooperation, including food, electrical engineering, and construction. Foreign Business Snapshot: China remains the biggest foreign corporate partner in Uzbekistan, with Russia and Turkey also expanding their footprints. Legal Leadership: Robakhon Makhmudova was approved as the new Chairperson of Uzbekistan’s Supreme Court. Luxury Tourism: Uzbekistan and Italy’s Arsenale advanced plans for Central Asia’s first luxury train connecting Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva.

World Cup Shock for Uzbekistan: Colombia beat Uzbekistan 3-1 in Group K in Mexico City, with Luis Díaz delivering a goal and an assist in his World Cup debut, while Uzbekistan’s Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored their first-ever World Cup goal. Ronaldo Under Pressure: Portugal drew 1-1 with DR Congo; Cristiano Ronaldo played the full match but had no shots on target, and criticism is growing around his role. Uzbek Player Apology: Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov, booked in the match, sent a signed “I am sorry” jersey to the cameraman he accidentally collided with during the opener. Next Uzbekistan Match: Uzbekistan’s next World Cup game is against Portugal, with Colombia also in the group—so early points could decide who advances. Trade & Connectivity: Afghanistan-Uzbekistan trade topped $3.8 billion in five months, with investors eyeing agriculture, mining, and transit corridors. Logistics Investment: Wildberries plans a Central Asia logistics hub in Uzbekistan, investing over $300M to link regional supply to export routes. AI Governance Talk in Tashkent: An expert at TIIF warned AI is becoming a geopolitical issue, pushing countries to build trusted partner networks and navigate controls.

World Cup shock for Uzbekistan: Colombia kicked off its 2026 campaign with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan in Mexico City as Luis Díaz starred on debut with a goal and an assist, Daniel Muñoz opened the scoring, Abbosbek Fayzullaev equalised for Uzbekistan, and Jaminton Campaz sealed it in stoppage time; the result sent Colombia to the top of Group K while Uzbekistan, making its World Cup debut, dropped to the bottom. Uzbekistan’s AI push at TIIF: At the Tashkent International Investment Forum, experts warned that AI is becoming a geopolitical issue shaped by export controls and “trusted partner” networks, urging Uzbekistan and others to build alliances and governance capacity. Rural development boost: The World Bank approved $150 million in concessional financing for phase two of Uzbekistan’s Rural Infrastructure Development Program, targeting 296 rural districts and about 1.2 million people with upgrades to roads, water, electricity and business development centers. Critical minerals strategy: Uzbekistan is trying to escape the “raw materials trap,” pitching itself as a regional hub for processing and high-value production as critical minerals demand accelerates globally. Sports incident in Mexico City: During the Colombia–Uzbekistan match, FOX commentator Warren Barton was left bleeding after being hit by a bottle thrown from the stands, though he was reported to be OK.

World Cup Group K Shock: Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo played a record-equalling sixth World Cup but Portugal were held 1-1 by DR Congo in Houston. Match turning point: Joao Neves headed Portugal ahead in the 6th minute, but Yoane Wissa scored DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup goal in first-half stoppage time to earn a historic point. Ronaldo spotlight: Ronaldo had two late chances go wide and finished with a subdued display, while Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said substituting him “makes no sense” given his box presence. Uzbekistan on the global stage: Uzbekistan kick off their first World Cup appearance against Colombia at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with coach Fabio Cannavaro and Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov in focus. Banking & trade: Agrobank plans trade facilitation and payment settlement links between Malaysia and Uzbekistan/CIS by year-end, while TBC Uzbekistan won a top AI banking innovation prize for its digital assistant. Environment policy: Uzbekistan’s revised Environmental Code is framed as a shift toward managing “natural capital” rather than fragmented rules.

World Cup Spotlight: Uzbekistan’s historic World Cup debut is tonight in Mexico City as Fabio Cannavaro’s side faces Colombia at Estadio Azteca, with Colombia tipped as favorites and Uzbekistan expected to lean on a compact, counterattacking approach. Global Football Buzz: Cristiano Ronaldo returns for Portugal vs DR Congo, while Messi’s hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria keeps the tournament headlines rolling. Investment & Reforms: At the Tashkent International Investment Forum, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan will push reforms further, including plans for a Tashkent International Financial Center with tax-free incentives and an independent financial regulator. Regional Diplomacy: Qatar is participating in TIIF 2026, highlighting cooperation in energy transformation, trade corridors, logistics and industrial development. Travel & Connectivity: Qatar Airways announced a major Summer 2026 network expansion, including restored and new routes to more than 160 destinations, with services tied to growing travel demand.

TIIF 2026 Diplomacy: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met senior U.S. executives and major firms ahead of the Tashkent International Investment Forum, pushing for more American investment in strategic sectors. Islamic Finance Push: Uzbekistan’s Central Bank is expanding Islamic finance in stages, with microfinance Islamic products growing to UZS 22 billion in early 2026 and plans for Islamic banking law, sukuk licensing, and Sharia governance. Biotech & Industry Clusters: Uzbekistan and South Korea agreed on a $100 million biotechnology cluster and new industrial zones in the Tashkent region, alongside broader investment initiatives. U.S.-Focused Special Economic Zone: Uzbekistan proposed a special economic zone designed for American companies, offering familiar regulations, infrastructure, utilities, logistics support, and a joint investment platform. Road Safety Concern: Tashkent recorded 47 vehicle fires in five months, with officials warning about unsafe aftermarket modifications and poor maintenance. World Cup Spotlight (Uzbekistan): Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo urged his team not to underestimate Uzbekistan in their opener, while Portugal begin their campaign against DR Congo with Cristiano Ronaldo aiming to score in a sixth World Cup.

World Cup Spotlight: Uzbekistan’s historic debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set for June 17 vs Colombia in Mexico City, with coach Fabio Cannavaro aiming to turn a tough Group K into a real breakthrough despite a rough warm-up run. Regional Diplomacy: South Korea and Uzbekistan held the 18th policy consultation in Tashkent, focusing on energy, critical minerals, transport, infrastructure, healthcare, digital tech and climate response, ahead of a Korea–Central Asia summit in September. Security & Fair Play Debate: 13 World Cup teams, including debutants Uzbekistan, publicly rejected UEFA chief Aleksander Čeferin’s “uninteresting matches” remarks, saying every game matters. Public Health Rule Change: India moved cough syrups off over-the-counter shelves, requiring prescriptions—an update that echoes wider concerns about misuse and contaminated products. Trade & Investment: Uzbekistan’s delegation joined Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev on a working visit to Tashkent tied to the V Tashkent International Investment Forum. Phytosanitary Alert: Kyrgyzstan destroyed 30,000 decorative seedlings from China after finding a counterfeit phytosanitary certificate linked to shipments intended for Uzbekistan.

Critical Minerals Push: Uzbekistan plans to invest $4.2bn in 120 projects from 2026-2030 to expand critical-mineral supply and grow high-tech industries, including new production of high-purity selenium, tellurium and rhenium, plus a fuller tungsten and molybdenum value chain. Vehicle Recycling Draft: A new Uzbekistan draft resolution proposes an annual environmental compensation fee for owners of passenger vehicles made 30+ years ago starting Jan 1, 2027, as part of end-of-life vehicle utilization and recycling rules. World Cup Spotlight (Uzbek Angle): Uzbekistan’s national team is among the squads facing strict entry and security hurdles tied to the 2026 tournament, with reports of extra checks at training grounds. Regional Sports Link: Uzbekistan is also set to play Colombia in the World Cup group stage on June 17, with match-day fan coverage and watch-party details circulating in host cities.