The 2022 AFC U23 Championship is being held in four stadiums across Uzbekistan, including the Bunyodkor Stadium, which is renowned for hosting the legendary Rivaldo.
Bunyodkor Stadium, with a capacity of 34,000 seats, is the home ground of Bunyodkor FC, a club that has won the Uzbekistan national championship five times. The Brazilian legend Rivaldo played here for two years (2008-2010), including one year under the guidance of the famous coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Nine matches of the AFC U23 Championship will take place at Bunyodkor Stadium, including the final. Here, Vietnam will play its first match against Thailand at 10 PM on June 2 (Hanoi time). As the second-largest stadium in Uzbekistan, Bunyodkor is frequently chosen to host national team matches.
Lokomotiv Stadium, with a capacity of 6,500 seats, is located in the eastern part of the capital Tashkent and is the home ground of PFC Lokomotiv. Seven group stage matches and one quarter-final will be held at this venue.
Lokomotiv Stadium will host the first match of Group C between South Korea and Malaysia. Vietnam will play here in its remaining group matches against South Korea (June 5) and Malaysia (June 8).
Pakhtakor Stadium, with a capacity of 35,000 seats, is located in central Tashkent and serves as the home ground of FC Pakhtakor, a team that has won the Uzbekistan Super League 14 times. This stadium is one of the oldest in Uzbekistan.
Pakhtakor Stadium hosted the opening match on June 1 between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, where the host won 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Ulug’bek Khoshimov. A total of nine matches will be held here, including one semi-final and the third-place playoff.
Markaziy Stadium in the city of Qarshi, located west of Tashkent, has a capacity of 15,500 seats. Qarshi is the administrative center of the Kashkadarya region and is one of the oldest cities in the world, featuring many historical attractions that draw visitors from afar.
This stadium is home to Nasaf FC and will host six group stage matches. The capital Tashkent is a modern metropolis with over two million residents. With a history spanning 2,200 years, it boasts historical monuments, modern mosques, and traditional Eastern markets.
