World Cup 2026: Cannavaro named Uzbekistan manager, his story | OneFootball

Fabio Cannavaro has verbally accepted the position of head coach of Uzbekistan ahead of the 2026 World Cup. This is a historic role for the 2006 World Cup champion, who will become the second Italian coach to lead a national team at the World Cup, after Carlo Ancelotti with Brazil.

2026 World Cup, Fabio Cannavaro new head coach of Uzbekistan: history, curiosities, and precedents

According to Fabrizio Romano, Cannavaro has reached a preliminary agreement with the Uzbek federation. The terms of the contract are expected to be formalized within 24-48 hours, with the signing of the official documents.

Cannavaro will bring his international experience to a team that has just secured its first-ever World Cup qualification, a historic achievement for Uzbekistan, independent from the Soviet Union since 1991.

The historic journey of the Uzbek national team

Uzbekistan had attempted to qualify for the World Cup seven times without success until now.

Their only major international triumph remains the victory at the 1994 Asian Games.

After the decisive win against Qatar that secured qualification, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev gifted an electric car to each player as a reward.

Investment and football development

Since 2018, the Uzbek government has launched a football development plan:

Opening youth academies in 14 regions to encourage the training of new talents.

The national team now includes players also from European leagues, including:

Eldor Shomurodov, former Roma striker

Abdukodir Khusanov, Manchester City defender

Cannavaro and the 2026 World Cup

Cannavaro’s international experience will be crucial in leading Uzbekistan:

The Italian coach has already won the 2006 World Cup, an experience he can pass on to the team.

He will be the second Italian coach present at the 2026 World Cup, after Carlo Ancelotti, who will lead Brazil.

Cannavaro’s arrival marks a historic event for Uzbek football, as the country prepares to experience its first World Cup with a star from the world of international football.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.