Uzbekistan will make its World Cup debut at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. In the second instalment of a four-part series, RFI looks at the journey of the first team from central Asia to qualify for the competition in its 96-year history.
Fittingly for a team nicknamed "Asian Italy", a reference to their blue and white kit and defensive style of play, Uzbekistan will be coached at their first World Cup by former Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro.
The 52-year-old, who captained Italy to the World Cup title in 2006, took over last October from former Uzbekistan international Timur Kapadze.
Capped 119 times over a 13-year international career, Kapadze had worked with Uzbekistan's Olympic team for three years before taking charge in January 2025, succeeding Srecko Katanec, who had stepped down due to illness.
Kapadze built on the foundations Katanec had laid in the second round of Asian qualifying between November 2023 and June 2024. With 13 points from six of their 10 third-round games, he guided the team to two further wins and two draws to secure qualification in second place in Group A behind Iran.
"I express my gratitude to the players, the team staff and the federation for their trust and cooperation," said Kapadze on his departure. "A special thanks to the fans for their constant support and faith in the team. I am proud to have been part of this journey and wish the team well."
Cannavaro, one of only five defenders to win the Ballon d'Or in its 70-year history, brings considerably more World Cup experience than his predecessor, having appeared at four tournaments between 1998 and 2010.
Trimming the squad
Following a three-week training camp with a 40-man squad, Cannavaro cut 10 players and departed on 25 May from the Uzbek capital Tashkent for a further training camp in the United States.
The squad will be reduced to 26 before their opening game against Colombia at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 17 June. They follow that with a match against Portugal on 23 June in Houston, before concluding their Group K campaign against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Atlanta on 27 June.
"It's a really tough group because we face Portugal," said Cannavaro after the draw for the 2026 tournament.
'World Cup privilege'
"It will be very tough for us, but I say to my players: being at a World Cup is a privilege. We need to enjoy it and we will see what happens."
Although Uzbekistan are making their first World Cup appearance, football has a history of more than a century in the country. Teams were formed in the city of Kokand, around 170km south-east of Tashkent, and the first regional championship began shortly before the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.
For nearly 70 years until 1991, Uzbek players represented the USSR internationally. After independence, the national side played their first match against Tajikistan in June 1992 in Dushanbe.
Thirty-four years on, their successors will take to the pitch at the Estadio Azteca for the most significant game in the country's football history.
