Kusanov's month of ongoing good fortune includes winning the Carabao Cup and welcoming his first son into the family.
On 25 March 2026, Abdugadir Kusanov, the 22-year-old rising defender for Manchester City, completed the best March of his life by winning the Carabao Cup and welcoming his first son. On 14 March, Kusanov's wife gave birth to their new family member, naming their first son Abu Dawud, while Kusanov was preparing for the Carabao Cup final.
However, his joy over his newborn did not affect his performance on the field. In the Carabao Cup final on 22 March at Wembley Stadium, Kusanov was trusted by Pep Guardiola to play the full 90 minutes in defense, helping Manchester City secure a 2-0 victory over Arsenal.
This victory marked a historic achievement for him as the first Uzbek player to win a major English football competition. Post-match statistics showed Kusanov completed 94% of his passes successfully and made sharp interceptions, leading English media to hail him as one of the key players in the squad that secured the club's ninth title.
Kusanov held a celebration to welcome his first son, Dawud, at his hometown in Uzbekistan, surrounded by family and relatives who gathered to congratulate them warmly. Dressed in a suit, Kusanov carried his newborn through a football and Manchester City-themed balloon arch, with a sign displaying the son's name and birthdate, 14.03.2026. Elders embraced, kissed, and warmly blessed the little grandson.
Kusanov is preparing to join the Uzbekistan national team for FIFA international friendly matches, which will serve as a celebration after the "White Wolves" secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup finals.
Uzbekistan's upcoming preparation schedule
27 March: Uzbekistan vs. Gabon
30 March: Uzbekistan vs. Venezuela