The final day and game of the World Cup 2026 first round of the Group Stages featured Uzbekistan versus Colombia. Kickoff was at 7:00 AM on our students’ last day of classes. Uzbeks are excited and proud of the national team, “The White Wolves”, qualifying for the first time ever. I hosted a World Cup Watch party on our new LED big screen in the multi-purpose room. It was so much fun!
We have a newly arrived Colombian family at the school, and it was nice to give them the opportunity to watch the game in English. I brought our Apple TV and watched the game on the Fox Sports feed through our YouTube TV subscription. The assembly room was packed. Students, parents, and teachers were playing the bongo drums, cheering and soaking up the history and pageantry of the game. Colombia scored first, but Uzbekistan equalized shortly after with a beautiful goal. The Colombians just before halftime scored another goal to make it 2-1 going into the break. Both teams had chances in the second half with no goals until extra time, Colombia sealed the game with a remarkable crossing pass and header to win 3-1. I was fearful Uzbekistan would be embarrassed and play tentatively, but they had a strong performance in the loss. Uzbeks should be proud of the team! A lot more people should know Uzbekistan now! Many people in the USA give me a blank look when I say I live there. I had mixed emotions watching the game. I lived and died with the Colombian National Team when I lived in Barranquilla, Colombia in the 1990s. The team practiced at Colegio Karl C. Parrish because we had a regulation-sized field and it was not so far out of the city like the national stadium.
As you can see from the video below, soccer brought our community together! I am glad I trusted my instincts and made a big deal about the game! A special thanks to Rob B., Claire, Ramon, Hoji, Pavel, and Vadim for supporting the event.
Younger and older students equally delighted in the experience, and it made for even greater emotions on an emotional last day of classes for students. The secondary school assembly was interrupted by another summer rainstorm. The community adjusted quickly and we finished the assembly in the gymnasium. I spent the rest of the day getting through my long Things to Do list.
I was exhausted from hosting such a crazy event so early in the morning, and the emotions of the day. My good friend Aaron arranged a final trip to The Bani, the Russian banya that we frequently visit in the colder months. It was a fantastic way to spend my final full evening in Tashkent before Summer Break. We had a lot of laughs, good food and drink, and I slept soundly after de-stressing in the saunas and cold pools. A Russian kvass always fortifies my energy. I will miss the Russian banya and will be looking for it in my world travels.
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