FIFA in Tashkent: FIFA president Gianni Infantino arrived in Uzbekistan to review preparations for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup co-hosted with Azerbaijan, with talks focused on football infrastructure, youth development, and plans to open a FIFA regional office in Tashkent. Interparliamentary Diplomacy: Uzbekistan and Belarus’ local representative bodies met in Khiva and signed 15 agreements to expand interregional cooperation, including public participation and regional socio-economic projects. Infrastructure Finance: The AIIB and Uzbekistan agreed a 2026-2029 pipeline of potential infrastructure projects worth up to $5bn, plus a $1.5m grant to prepare modernization of Uzbekistan’s electricity transmission network. Military Cooperation: Uzbekistan’s defense delegation met Azerbaijan’s defense leadership around ADEX-2026 and the “Power of Unity – 2026” drills, while separate reporting highlights multinational special forces training in Uzbekistan involving Pakistan, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. Digital Integration: Central Asian business and policy circles proposed mutual recognition of electronic documents and closer alignment of AI and data rules to ease cross-border trade across the region. Regional Mobility Watch: Russia tightened cash-export rules, capping cash carried to neighboring states including Uzbekistan at 1 million rubles, with limited exceptions.