Uzbekistan World Cup 2026: Cannavaro leads debutants into unknown territory

A World Cup-winning captain with Italy in 2006, Fabio Cannavaro makes his coaching debut at the tournament with first-timers Uzbekistan, who qualified for the finals at the eight attempt.

Read on for my Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 predictions, an assessment of their squad and a look at their chances of progressing in the competition.

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

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

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

Forwards: Eldor Shomurodov (Istanbul Basaksehir), Azizbek Amonov (Bukhara), Igor Sergeev (Persepolis)

The doubling of direct AFC qualification slots from four to eight since 2022 has helped to widen the Asian representation at the World Cup. And Uzbekistan are one of the big winners of that expansion.

After finishing second to Iran in the opening group stage, they ended up losing just once in 16 fixtures across the two phases of qualification. Another runners-up spot behind Team Melli their second pool secured them a first World Cup appearance.

That wasn’t enough for their coach, Timur Kapadze, to be backed by the governing body though. The Uzbek coach was soon pushed aside to make space for Cannavaro in a move which resulted in Kapadze walking away weeks later.

The 136-cap former Azzurri skipper has had a fairly nomadic coaching career to this point, and the success or otherwise of this venture could well dictate his legacy as a manager.

World Cup Odds

There has to be a real question as to what a realistic aim for this Uzbekistan side can be.

Sure, World Cups are full of shocks. Argentina’s losses to Cameroon in 1990 and Saudi Arabia four years ago are among the biggest upsets.

Senegal beat France in 2002, while Italy losses to North Korea (1966), South Korea (2002) and Costa Rica (2014) have left lasting impacts.

But can the White Wolves inflict such a blow in a group containing Portugal, Colombia and DR Congo?

Beyond Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov, their squad is hardly littered with household names. That said, they do have one potential matchwinner on whom many of their hopes will lie in skipper Eldor Shomurodov.

Group K Fixtures:

17 June 8pm local (28 June 3am BST) - vs Colombia (Mexico City)

23 June 12pm local (6pm BST) - vs Portugal (Houston)

27 June 7:30pm local (28 June 12:30am BST) - vs Congo DR (Atlanta)

Player to watch: Eldor Shomurodov

The most prolific goalscorer in Uzbekistan national team history, Eldor Shomurodov had the season of his life in 2025/26.

On loan from Roma, the 30-year-old netted 22 goals in 34 league matches in the Turkish Super Lig with Istanbul Basaksehir.

It was such a fabulous return that Basaksehir made the transfer permanent before the campaign was even over, and his tally earned him joint-top scorer status in the division alongside Trabzonspor’s former Southampton forward Paul Onuachu.

With 44 goals for his country in 90 appearances, the so-called ‘Uzbek Messi’ has the pace, power and poise to deliver in tight areas. And for a side unlikely to dominate long periods of play, his ability to make the most of chances on the counter could come in particularly handy.

Football Odds

Prediction: Bottom of Group K

While they are World Cup debutants, Uzbekistan actually come into Group K as third seeds due to DR Congo’s late qualification through the play-offs.

That said, they bring up the rear of the group participants in the latest FIFA World Rankings, in 50th spot, and ought to find even the greater high-level experience of the Congolese squad difficult to handle. And that’s before we mention Portugal and Colombia.

They should be able to give a really good account of themselves, but I just don’t see them competing for long enough periods to progress. I’m also still to be convinced by Cannavaro the coach.