Uzbekistan team profile - FIFA World Cup 2026
In the build-up to FIFA World Cup 2026 in USA, Canada and Mexico, we shine a spotlight on Uzbekistan.
FIFA World Ranking: 50
Confederation: AFC
Who is Uzbekistan’s head coach for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Despite the bulk of qualification coming under Slovenian coach Srecko Katanec and then finished off by Timur Kapadze, Uzbekistan will head to FIFA World Cup 2026 with 2006 winner Fabio Cannavaro at the helm, the 2006 Ballon d’Or winner and legendary former Italian centre-back having been appointed head coach in October 2025.
Who is Uzbekistan’s captain for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Uzbekistan’s captain for FIFA World Cup 2026 is Eldor Shomurodov, who has spent this season on loan at Istanbul Basaksehir from Roma and has an excellent goal scoring record at international level with no player having scored more for the White Wolves.
How many times have Uzbekistan participated in a FIFA World Cup before 2026?
None - 2026 will be Uzbekistan’s FIFA World Cup debut.
What is Uzbekistan’s best performance at a FIFA World Cup?
2026 will be Uzbekistan’s FIFA World Cup
How did Uzbekistan qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Beginning their AFC qualification campaign in the second round back in November 2023, Uzbekistan were drawn into Group E and finished unbeaten through six matches, just behind IR Iran on goal difference and comfortably ahead of both Turkmenistan and Hong Kong.
The White Wolves were then once again drawn into a group with IR Iran in the third round of qualification, where six teams from three groups, the top two in each, would automatically make it to FIFA World Cup 2026.
Drawn into a group with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Kyrgyz Republic and Korea DPR, Uzbekistan may have been a little concerned.
However, they qualified from Group A with relative ease, having succumbed to just one defeat in ten matches and finishing in second-place just two points short of IR Iran at the top of the table. Uzbekistan conceded just seven goals in their ten matches in the third round, with that defensive record only bettered by Japan and sealed their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification on June 5, 2025 with a goalless draw away to United Arab Emirates in the penultimate round of fixtures.
Who are Uzbekistan’s star players?
The aforementioned Eldor Shomurodov (Istanbul Basaksehir) will be Uzbekistan’s most potent attacking threat at the tournament with the former Genoa man having been their top scorer in qualifying, too, with just five goals. He is their all-time top goal scorer.
Perhaps their biggest name, though, does come in defence in the form of English Premier League centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov (Man City). The former Lens man has grown into a colossus at the back for the Citizens in what has been Pep Guardiola’s final season in Manchester, winning both the League Cup and FA Cup.
The bulk of the rest of the squad ply their trade in Uzbekistan, with a few players playing in Iran, Iraq, the UAE or Azerbaijan – other than Abbosbek Fayzullaev (Istanbul Basaksehir), the versatile attacking midfielder having spent the season as a teammate of Shomurodov in the Turkish Super Lig.
Who is in Uzbekistan’s group at FIFA World Cup 2026?
Portugal
DR Congo
Uzbekistan
Colombia
Uzbekistan’s Group K fixtures are as follows:
Uzbekistan v Colombia: Wednesday June 17, 10:00pm ET, 3:00am UK (Thursday)
Portugal v Uzbekistan: Tuesday June 23, 1:00pm ET, 6:00pm UK
DR Congo v Uzbekistan: Saturday June 27, 7:30pm ET, 12:30am UK (Sunday)
All kick-off dates are based on a local kick-off time
Where is Uzbekistan’s base camp at FIFA World Cup 2026?
Atlanta United Training Center, Marietta, Georgia
Expert prediction for Uzbekistan’s chances at FIFA World Cup 2026
Uzbekistan began the Fabio Cannavaro era with a hard-fought 2-1 defeat to Uruguay before a comfortable 2-0 victory over Egypt and a goalless draw with Iran back in the autumn.
That set of friendly results could give an indication that the FIFA World Cup debutants may present stubborn resistance in the group stages. Especially with Khusanov leading the backline and Shomurodov a threat going forward.
However, the group stages, even with that stubbornness and resilience, is where their journey at the global stage, for now, should begin and end. More so because of the quality of their opposition which comes in the form of one of the leading contenders in Portugal, a so-called ‘dark horse’ in Colombia and a DR Congo side that were strong in CAF qualification.
What round will Uzbekistan reach at FIFA World Cup 2026? Group Stage
