Uzbekistan may have fallen to Spain with a 2-1 scoreline on Wednesday, but their spirited fans won the hearts of the audience as the Paris Olympics kicked off with football matches in Paris and Saint-Etienne.
Throughout the match at Parc des Princes, once home to French striker Kylian Mbappé during his tenure at Paris Saint-Germain, Uzbekistan fans filled the stadium with their energetic chants and rhythmic drumming.
As the game drew to a close, Uzbek supporters inspired large portions of the crowd to join in a synchronized clap above their heads, reminiscent of the Viking Thunder Clap introduced by Iceland fans at the 2016 European Championship in France.
The crowd was also treated to an Uzbek rendition of the beloved soccer anthem “Don’t Take Me Home,” accompanied by a rapidly intensifying drumbeat.
Uzbekistan’s captain, Eldor Shomurodov, who played for Italian club Cagliari in Serie A last season, had the honor of kicking off the game. The 29-year-old Shomurodov passed the ball to a teammate before applauding the fans. FIFA President Gianni Infantino greeted the players prior to the match.
Spain’s right-back Marc Pubill netted the first goal of the Paris Games in the 29th minute. Shomurodov equalized with a penalty late in the first half, marking his 41st international goal and sparking wild celebrations among the Uzbekistan supporters.
In a parallel match, Argentina, missing Lionel Messi, faced Morocco at Saint-Étienne’s Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium, famously known as Le Chaudron (The Cauldron) for its passionate local supporters.
Outside the stadium, fans of both Morocco and Argentina mingled, with two Argentine fans displaying a flag featuring a photo of the late Diego Maradona and his nickname “El Pibe de Oro” (the Golden Kid), a tribute to the 1986 World Cup winner.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Morocco’s Soufiane Rahimi scoring twice. After his first goal, Rahimi celebrated with his teammates in a prayer pose. Argentina’s Cristian Medina equalized in the 16th minute of stoppage time.
A festive atmosphere enveloped the streets near Parc des Princes, close to where Olympic tennis will be held at Roland Garros, the site of the French Open. About 150 Uzbekistan fans gathered outside the Porte d’Auteuil subway station, waving flags, singing, and beating drums as they made their way to the stadium under light police supervision.
Positioned in the upper tier of the Boulogne section behind one of the goals, the Uzbekistan fans kept up their loud chants, especially after Pubill’s goal for Spain. Their fervor only grew as the second half began, with fans chanting “Uz-bek-is-tan” to the fast drumbeat.
The crowd erupted when Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov saved a penalty from Sergio Gomez with his legs. However, Gomez scored a low shot shortly after.
Security measures were heightened for the evening match between Israel and Mali in Group D, reflecting ongoing tensions in Gaza.
Wednesday featured eight soccer matches, two days before the opening ceremony. Rugby sevens also saw action with 12 matches, starting with Australia’s 21-14 victory over Samoa at Stade de France, followed by host France drawing 12-12 with the United States.
