Zurich and Tashkent, June 16, 2025 – The World Leagues Association (WLA) and the Uzbekistan Professional Football League (UZPFL) have completed the second phase of WLA’s League Development Program, marking a key step forward for professional football in Uzbekistan.
The League Development Program offers a tailored evaluation of governance and operational structures and aims to deliver actionable recommendations to strengthen professional football leagues, elevate standards, and accelerate long-term growth.
Following a first phase consisting of remote preparations and assessments in May, the program entered its on-site phase last week with a visit of the WLA to Tashkent to lay the groundwork for future enhancements.
Over the past week, Tashkent hosted WLA’s General Secretary Jerome Perlemuter and Head of Development Stanislav Shtipkov to lead on-site assessment of Uzbek professional football. This included interviews, workshops and strategic seminars with Super League clubs, UZPFL executives and leadership, and meeting the Uzbekistan Football Association. The working sessions focused on areas such as governance, infrastructures, competition, financial sustainability, and fan engagement.
As part of the program, Czech League Football Association CEO Mr. Tomas Barta was invited to provide expert views on league development and exchange best practices with the UZPFL.
The WLA will now work with the UZPFL on the last phase of the program which will consist of providing concrete recommendations and designing an actionable development plan.
The WLA‑UZPFL collaboration underscores Uzbekistan’s effort to develop professional football and its rising prominence in the region and on the football stage.
