Rustam Emomali, who is the Chairman of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) also the Mayor of Dushanbe and who combines these jobs with being President of the Tajikistan Football Federation (TFF), today is traveling to Doha, Qatar to catch the Tajikistan-Jordan soccer match.

Dushanbe mayor’s Telegram channel says “the President of the Tajikistan Football Federation Rustam Emomali will attend the match between the national football teams of Tajikistan and Jordan that will take place in Doha today on February 2.” 

Meanwhile, Mamour Yusufzoda, a spokesman for the mayor of Khujand, the capital of the Tajik northern province of Sughd, wrote on his Facebook page that about 1000 football fans from all regions of Tajikistan will fly to Qatar on 3 planes under support of TFF to root for the Tajik national team.

Recall, in a satisfying one-two for the country’s fans, Tajikistan qualified earlier this week for the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup by beating the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Tajikistan’s progress in the competition, which is running in Qatar through to February, is the more surprising.  Tajikistan, which is in 106th position in FIFA ranking, outplayed the better-resourced UAE, which is in 64th position in FIFA ranking.  

Today, Tajikistan is facing in Doha Jordan, which is in 87th position in FIFA ranking.  

This is the first time that Tajikistan has ever reached the knockout stages of this tournament.