Uzbekistan: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and Schedule | OneFootball

Fabio Cannavaro leads Uzbekistan on their historic FIFA World Cup debut this summer.

The 2006 World Cup winner and Ballon d’Or holder took charge in October 2025. He inherited a side already qualified for the tournament. The White Wolves become the first Central Asian nation to reach football’s biggest stage.

Uzbekistan sealed qualification under Timur Kapadze with a goalless draw away to the UAE in June 2025. A point with a game to spare was enough. The Uzbekistan Football Association then turned to Cannavaro after the campaign closed, with Kapadze stepping back into the staff. The Italian announced his 26-man squad on 2 June, hours before FIFA’s submission deadline.

Uzbekistan: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and Schedule

Eldor Shomurodov captains the side as the country’s all-time top scorer with 44 international goals. The Istanbul Başakşehir forward, on loan from Roma, leads an attack built around domestic talent. Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov anchors the defence as the squad’s standout name. The 22-year-old joined City from Lens in January 2025 for around €40 million.

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He became the first Uzbek to play in the Premier League upon his switch. Injury issues have curtailed his minutes this season, raising sharpness concerns. Fifteen of Cannavaro’s 26 ply their trade in the domestic Uzbekistan Super League. Istanbul Başakşehir midfielder Abbosbek Fayzullaev offers the team’s main creative spark behind Shomurodov.

Group K pits the debutants against Colombia, Portugal and DR Congo. Uzbekistan open against James Rodríguez’s Colombia in Mexico City. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal follow in Houston. The closing fixture against DR Congo in Atlanta could be decisive. Cannavaro has stressed defensive discipline and counter-attacking pace as his blueprint for survival.

Uzbekistan 2026 World Cup fixtures

What time do Uzbekistan’s World Cup games kick off?

All kick-off times are BST.

Uzbekistan 2026 FIFA World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: Utkir Yusupov (Navbahor), Abduvohid Nematov (Nasaf), Botirali Ergashev (Neftchi).

Defenders: Rustam Ashurmatov (Esteghlal), Farrukh Sayfiev (Neftchi), Khojiakbar Alijonov (Pakhtakor), Sherzod Nasrullaev (Nasaf), Umar Eshmurodov (Nasaf), Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City), Abdulla Abdullaev (Dibba), Bekhruz Karimov (Surkhon), Jakhongir Urozov (Dinamo Samarqand), Avazbek Ulmasaliev (AGMK).

Midfielders: Otabek Shukurov (Baniyas), Jaloliddin Masharipov (Esteghlal), Odiljon Hamrobekov (Tractor), Oston Urunov (Persepolis), Jamshid Iskanderov (Neftchi), Dostonbek Khamdamov (Pakhtakor), Abbosbek Fayzullaev (Istanbul Basaksehir), Akmal Mozgovoy (Pakhtakor), Azizjon Ganiev (Al Bataeh), Sherzod Esanov (Bukhara).

Forwards: Eldor Shomurodov (Istanbul Basaksehir, on loan from Roma), Igor Sergeev (Persepolis), Azizbek Amonov (Bukhara).

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