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Uzbekistan 2026 Home Kit
yet to be confirmed. Expected to feature white as primary color with blue and green accent detailing referencing the Uzbek national flag.
Uzbekistan National Football Team at World Cup 2026
Uzbekistan make their first ever FIFA World Cup appearance in 2026 — coached by Italian World Cup-winning legend Fabio Cannavaro, appointed in October 2025. Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov and Serie A-experienced Eldor Shomurodov headline a squad facing Group K alongside Portugal and Colombia.
The Uzbekistan national football team enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the very first time in their football history — an historic milestone secured by finishing in the top two of their AFC third-round qualifying group on June 5, 2025. Fabio Cannavaro — Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning captain and Ballon d'Or winner — was appointed Uzbekistan's head coach in October 2025, succeeding interim coach Timur Kapadze. Uzbekistan face Group K alongside Portugal and Colombia — with the lineup confirmed by the November 2025 group draw. Group K results are live on our World Cup 2026 standings .
Abdukodir Khusanov at Manchester City is Uzbekistan's most prominent individual player — a central defender who has established himself in Pep Guardiola's Premier League champions squad with performances that have attracted global attention. Eldor Shomurodov's Serie A experience brings European club-level quality to Uzbekistan's attacking options — his time at AS Roma and subsequent clubs gave the 2026 World Cup squad a forward with genuine European football pedigree. Full fixture details are on the match schedule .
Uzbekistan Standings and Ranking
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| 2026 World Cup Qualification | AFC — finished top 2 of third-round group (secured June 5, 2025 vs UAE) |
| World Cup Group | Group K (Portugal, Colombia, play-off winner) |
| Major Honours | AFC Asian Cup participation; regional Central Asian competition wins |
| Current FIFA Ranking | 50th (April 2026) |
| Highest-Ever FIFA Ranking | 45th |
| World Cup Appearances | 1 (2026 — FIRST EVER) |
| Best World Cup Result | Group stage (2026 — tournament debut) |
Uzbekistan Squad and Tactics
Uzbekistan Current Squad
FWC LIVE's current UZB squad tracker reflects Uzbekistan's 26-player March 2026 FIFA Series call-up for matches against Gabon and Venezuela. Abbosbek Fayzullaev and Khojimat Erkinov were not called because of injuries, while the final FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament squad is yet to be confirmed.
Goalkeepers
1
UZB
GK
Utkir Yusupov
Navbahor
12
UZB
GK
Abduvohid Nematov
Nasaf
23
UZB
GK
Botirali Ergashev
Neftchi
Defenders
15
UZB
DF
Abdukodir Khusanov
Manchester City
4
UZB
DF
Rustamjon Ashurmatov
Istiqlol
5
UZB
DF
Umarbek Eshmurodov
Nasaf
3
UZB
DF
Jahongir Urozov
Dinamo
2
UZB
DF
Sherzod Nasrullaev
Nasaf
13
UZB
DF
Farrukh Sayfiev
Neftchi
16
UZB
DF
Muhammadrasul Abdumajidov
Pakhtakor
18
UZB
DF
Khojiakbar Alijonov
Pakhtakor
24
UZB
DF
Muhammadkadir Hamraliev
Pakhtakor
25
UZB
DF
Behruz Karimov
Surkhon
Midfielders
7
UZB
MF
Otabek Shukurov
Bani Yas
9
UZB
MF
Odiljon Hamrobekov
Tractor
10
UZB
MF
Jamshid Iskanderov
Neftchi
6
UZB
MF
Umarali Rahmonaliyev
Sabah
8
UZB
MF
Azizjon Ganiev
Al Bataeh
11
UZB
MF
Oston Urunov
Persepolis
17
UZB
MF
Dostonbek Hamdamov
Pakhtakor
19
UZB
MF
Akmal Mozgovoy
Pakhtakor
22
UZB
MF
Ibrohim Ibragimov
Pakhtakor
Forwards
20
UZB
FW
Alisher Odilov
Pakhtakor
14
UZB
FW
Eldor Shomurodov
Istanbul Basaksehir
21
UZB
FW
Igor Sergeev
Persepolis
26
UZB
FW
Sherzod Temirov
Erbil
Playing Style
Fabio Cannavaro gives Uzbekistan a defender's structure, so the team starts from compact spacing and reliable center-back protection. Abdukodir Khusanov is the key defender in that plan, while Rustamjon Ashurmatov, Umarbek Eshmurodov, and Jahongir Urozov give the back line depth. Uzbekistan can use a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, depending on whether Cannavaro wants a second striker near Eldor Shomurodov.
In possession, Uzbekistan look for direct service into Shomurodov and Igor Sergeev, then support them through Otabek Shukurov and Odiljon Hamrobekov. Wide midfielders matter because Portugal and Colombia can stretch matches quickly. Since this is Uzbekistan's first World Cup, Cannavaro's biggest task is giving the squad clear defensive habits before they face elite attacking players.
Head Coach: Fabio Cannavaro
Cannavaro was appointed in October 2025 after Uzbekistan secured their first World Cup qualification. His profile as Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning captain gives the debut campaign a major coaching storyline, but his practical job is to make the team compact and brave in Group K.
CANNAVARO
Head Coach
Fabio Cannavaro
World Cup 2026 head coach
Team Facts
- Group K - Uzbekistan face Portugal, Colombia, and a play-off winner in their first World Cup group stage.
- World Cup appearances - 2026 is Uzbekistan's first FIFA World Cup appearance.
- Best result - Uzbekistan enter as tournament debutants, so their best World Cup result is yet to be confirmed.
Uzbekistan Probable Lineup (4-4-2)
Uzbekistan can start with two forwards if Cannavaro wants Shomurodov to play with a close partner. Against Portugal or Colombia, the same shape can drop into a compact midfield four.
| Position | Likely Option |
|---|---|
| GK | Utkir Yusupov or Abduvohid Nematov |
| Defenders | Sherzod Nasrullaev, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rustamjon Ashurmatov, Farrukh Sayfiev |
| Midfielders | Otabek Shukurov, Odiljon Hamrobekov, Oston Urunov, Jamshid Iskanderov |
| Attackers | Eldor Shomurodov, Igor Sergeev |
Uzbekistan Team Kits (2026)
Uzbekistan's 2026 World Cup kits feature the national colors of white, blue, and green referencing the Uzbek national flag. The kit supplier and full design details are yet to be confirmed for the 2026 tournament cycle. White has been Uzbekistan's traditional primary international uniform color throughout their football history.
Away
Away Kit
Uzbekistan 2026 Away Kit
yet to be confirmed for the 2026 tournament cycle.
Kit Design Details
- Home — yet to be confirmed. Expected to feature white as primary color with blue and green accent detailing referencing the Uzbek national flag.
- Away — yet to be confirmed for the 2026 tournament cycle.
- Third — yet to be confirmed for the 2026 tournament cycle.
- Goalkeeper — yet to be confirmed for the 2026 tournament cycle.
Uzbekistan 2026 Style, Strengths, and Tournament Outlook
Uzbekistan enter the 2026 World Cup with one of the most extraordinary coaching narratives in the entire tournament field — Fabio Cannavaro, a World Cup winner whose playing career defined a generation of Italian and European defensive football, now leading Central Asia's greatest footballing nation to their first-ever World Cup. Khusanov's Manchester City pedigree, Shomurodov's Serie A experience, and Cannavaro's defensive coaching intelligence give Uzbekistan a platform that is markedly elevated above what their FIFA ranking might suggest.
At the FIFA World Cup 2026 , Group K places Uzbekistan against Portugal and Colombia — both featuring genuinely elite attacking talent. Uzbekistan's best opportunity for points will be in the group's third fixture, while the Portugal and Colombia encounters will test every defensive resource at Cannavaro's disposal. Uzbekistan's 2026 World Cup debut is already a triumph of Central Asian football development — and Cannavaro's coaching ambition is to make it a competitive one as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 2026 Uzbekistan's first ever World Cup?
Yes. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is Uzbekistan's first-ever World Cup appearance — a historic milestone for Central Asian football secured by finishing in the top two of their AFC third-round qualifying group, with the decisive result being a draw against the UAE on June 5, 2025.
Who is Uzbekistan's most famous player?
Abdukodir Khusanov at Manchester City is Uzbekistan's most globally recognized player — a central defender who plays under Pep Guardiola's coaching system at the Premier League champions and brings top-level European football experience to Uzbekistan's World Cup debut defense.
What group is Uzbekistan in at World Cup 2026?
Uzbekistan are in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and a play-off winner — facing two of world football's most technically sophisticated attacking nations in their historic World Cup debut.
How did Uzbekistan qualify for World Cup 2026?
Uzbekistan qualified by finishing in the top two of their AFC third-round qualifying group — securing their place with a draw against the UAE on June 5, 2025, making them one of nine AFC nations in the expanded 48-team tournament field.
Conclusion
Uzbekistan arrive at the 2026 World Cup with one of football's most compelling storylines — a nation making their debut, coached by one of the game's all-time great defenders, with a Manchester City central defender and a Serie A-experienced striker as their key individual quality markers. Cannavaro's coaching intelligence, Khusanov's Premier League pedigree, and Shomurodov's European experience give the White Wolves a squad that is stronger than any previous Uzbek international football generation. Group K is demanding — but Uzbekistan's 2026 World Cup debut is already the greatest achievement in Central Asian football, and Cannavaro intends to build something competitive on that historic foundation.