Uzbekistan supporters wear Tubeteikas and Chapans ahead of their country’s match versus Portugal at the FIFA World Cup.
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Just past the eight o’clock hour on a Tuesday morning in Houston’s Helix Park, a father-son duo were dressed and ready for a de facto family reunion for the FIFA World Cup in Houston, Uzbekistani-style.
Dmitri and Pablo Rakhimov wore a traditional Uzbek wardrobe while dancing to EDM music blaring across the fields. The Rakhimovs are full-time Houston residents, having immigrated to Texas nearly two decades ago from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Both wore silk robes called Chapan, in dark blue with detailed gold threading, over their regular clothes. The elder Rakhimov also wore a Tubeteika, essentially a skullcap with similarly-detailed threading. Although Houston’s weather was already pushing toward 90 degrees, the family was undeterred.
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“I’m hot. I’m sweating everywhere, man,” Pablo said with a laugh. “But this is a celebratory and traditional thing that we wear for weddings and big things in our lives.”
The big thing is Uzbekistan’s first-ever appearance at the FIFA World Cup, and one of its rewards is the opportunity to face a soccer powerhouse like Portugal and international superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Uzbekistan has been tough and brave thus far but has yet to register a point in the tournament. Oddsmakers haven’t favored the Uzbeks in this tournament, but that hasn’t stopped many from the Eastern European nation from making the trip to Texas.
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“Over 4,000 fans made the trip,” said Bekzod Fayzullaev, a lead spokesperson for Uzbekistan’s tourism committee. “We’ve been waiting for 16 years. It’s been hard work. Our footballers, our nation, our sport committee, they work so hard to this and finally, we’re in the World Cup.”
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Over 4,000 supporters from Uzbekistan traveled to Houston for their country’s match vs. Portugal at the FIFA World Cup.
Fayzullaev helped coordinate many of the events in Houston, including the fan walk from Helix Park to Houston Stadium, where an estimated 1,500 marched with horses adorned in lavish materials, amulets and leather, accompanied by tour buses and pickup trucks. Fayzullaev also tapped into the local Uzbek community in Houston to recreate a festive atmosphere reminiscent of pregame celebrations in Tashkent or Namangan.
“I think it’s pretty amazing. It’s a small community here, but seeing just masses here, it’s so beautiful to see and experience that and see one another again,” Pablo said while in arms with his father. “It’s been awesome because I haven’t been back home in 19, so this is a little taste of home.”
That taste of home included a long line for catering provided by the tourism committee, which was serving a traditional rice meal called prov. Widely considered the national dish of Uzbekistan, it featured rice, lamb meat, onions, carrots, tomatoes, fresh garlic and a heavy seasoning of cumin and coriander, all cooked in oil or lard.
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“This is something mom or dad would make like once a week,” said Umar, a native of Samarkand and a resident of New York City who traveled to Houston for the match. “This is really good food. You can always eat it. Every day if you want to.”
An Uzbek fan wears a traditional Tubeteika while watching Uzbekistan face Portugal at the FIFA World Cup in Houston.
TIMUR ISMOILOV/AFP via Getty Images
The event felt like a homecoming of sorts for many, especially Houstonians from Uzbekistan, who are excited to see their culture on full display while simply longing for a chance to get back home one day.
“It’s such a good feeling because there aren’t too many of us here,” said Oisha, a college student in Houston who lives in Sugar Land. “Yesterday when so many Uzbek people came, I didn’t want the night to end, but it’s really exciting, and I’m really happy.”
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Regardless of how Uzbekistan fares against Portugal and in the rest of the tournament, it’s clear that the cultural exchange of the game has left a mark on many with ties to the country and those who were unfamiliar.
“Today, there is no Ronaldo. Today, there’s only Uzbekistan,” said Fayzullaev. “Today is perfect.”