Uzbekistan: World Cup 2026 Squad, Fixtures, Standings & Kits
Uzbekistan are at the FIFA World Cup for the very first time. The White Wolves qualified for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico by finishing second in the AFC third-round qualifying group — behind only Iran — ending decades of near-misses and producing a moment that the entire Central Asian nation celebrated as the defining chapter in its football history.
Drawn into Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and DR Congo, Uzbekistan face formidable opponents on their debut. That said, Fabio Cannavaro — the World Cup-winning Italian defender appointed head coach in late 2025 — arrived with a clear message: this side has nothing to lose. Captain Eldor Shomurodov leads the attack, Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov anchors the back four, and Abbosbek Fayzullaev provides the creative spark that could make Uzbekistan a genuinely dangerous proposition for any team that takes them lightly.
Uzbekistan — FIFA World Cup 2026
Group K · Manager: Fabio Cannavaro · History Made
Contents
What should fans know about Uzbekistan at World Cup 2026?
Uzbekistan are competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. They are placed in Group G and are managed by Srecko Katanec. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 Squad
Fabio Cannavaro confirmed his 26-man squad for Uzbekistan’s historic debut before FIFA’s June 2 deadline. The group is dominated by players from the Uzbek domestic league — Pakhtakor, Lokomotiv Tashkent, and AGMK provide the majority of places — with the standout exceptions of Abdukodir Khusanov at Manchester City and captain Eldor Shomurodov alongside Abbosbek Fayzullaev at Istanbul Başakşehir. The squad reflects Cannavaro’s emphasis on collective discipline and a clearly defined playing identity built over months of preparation together.
Goalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
Key Players to Watch at the 2026 World Cup
Six players will carry the weight of Uzbekistan’s debut on the world stage. Khusanov brings the rare quality of Champions League experience at just 21, Shomurodov the goalscoring intelligence earned across Italian football, and Fayzullaev the creative unpredictability that no defensive blueprint can fully contain. Urunov, Hamrobekov, and Masharipov provide the width, the engine room, and the experience that holds the team together when the group stage pressure builds.
Born on February 29, 2004, Khusanov became the first Uzbek player ever to sign for a Premier League club when Manchester City paid around €40 million for him in January 2025. He has since established himself as a composed, commanding centre-back under Pep Guardiola, earning Champions League experience at just 21 years old. At this World Cup he is the most high-profile player in the squad and the clearest signal that Uzbek football has arrived at a level no one anticipated this quickly.
Captain and nation’s all-time top scorer with 44 international goals. Shomurodov has played in Serie A with Roma and Genoa and brings a physical, intelligent pressing game that complements his ability to hold up play and finish cleanly inside the box. He is the veteran anchor around whom Cannavaro’s attack is built — and the most important player in Uzbekistan’s international football history.
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder who is Uzbekistan’s most creative and technically gifted player. Fayzullaev sees angles others cannot, links play between midfield and attack with exceptional close control, and is dangerous both as a provider and as a direct goal threat. Playing alongside Shomurodov at Başakşehir means he arrives at this World Cup with the club chemistry to produce his best form when the pressure is highest.
A dynamic left winger with 10 international goals in 39 caps who brings pace, directness, and a sharp eye for goal from wide positions. His performances for Persepolis in the Persian Gulf Pro League have sharpened his finishing and decision-making in the final third. Urunov is Uzbekistan’s most dangerous wide option — the player most likely to create a moment of quality from a counter-attack against a higher-ranked opponent.
The selfless engine of Uzbekistan’s midfield throughout the qualifying campaign. Hamrobekov is a central midfielder defined by his work rate, ball-winning ability, and positional intelligence in defensive transition. He allows more creative players around him to take risks knowing he will cover the space they vacate. Cannavaro has built his midfield structure around this kind of disciplined, unselfish contribution.
The experienced wide forward who has played across Europe and the Middle East throughout his career. Masharipov brings the broadest international club experience among the attacking options after Shomurodov, and his ability to drift inside from the right flank and play one-twos in tight spaces gives Cannavaro a tactical variation that defences cannot track with a single marker. At 30, this World Cup is his moment.
Tactics and Formation Under Fabio Cannavaro
Cannavaro brings the defensive intelligence that defined his playing career to Uzbekistan. His preferred system is a compact 4-2-3-1, with a double pivot of Hamrobekov and Shukurov or Esanov sitting deep to protect the two centre-backs. Khusanov marshals the right side of central defence while Alijonov takes the left, and the entire back four operates as a cohesive unit built on positional discipline rather than individual heroics.
In attack, creative control passes to Fayzullaev operating in the number ten role behind Shomurodov, with Urunov and Masharipov providing width and directness. Against Portugal, Uzbekistan will almost certainly prioritise a deep defensive block and rely on their pace in behind on quick transitions. Against DR Congo, they carry the quality to be patient and methodical — finding the space that opens up as the game progresses and the opposition commits bodies forward.
| Formation | Style | Key Shape | Primary Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-2-3-1 | Compact block, fast break | Double pivot shields Khusanov-led defence | Defensive structure |
| 4-3-3 | High press, wide runners | Fayzullaev + Urunov in behind on transitions | Pace and directness |
| 4-4-2 | Mid-block, direct forward play | Shomurodov + Masharipov as twin-strike target | Physical presence |
Group K Fixtures — Uzbekistan at WC 2026
Matchday viewing routes are covered in the where to watch Uzbekistan football guide before kickoff.
Uzbekistan’s three Group K matches offer a clear priority order. The Colombia opener on June 17 is their best opportunity for points — Colombia are technically superior but Uzbekistan’s disciplined defensive block can frustrate any team in short bursts. The Portugal match on June 23 will be about minimising damage and taking something if the chance arises. The DR Congo fixture on June 27 could ultimately determine whether Uzbekistan advance — and it is a game where they will back their quality to get a result.
Local viewers can use the Uzbekistan FIFA World Cup 2026 TV schedule for Zo’r TV, kickoff times, and streaming information.
| Date | Match | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2026 | Uzbekistan vs Colombia | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City, Mexico |
| Jun 23, 2026 | Portugal vs Uzbekistan | NRG Stadium | Houston, TX |
| Jun 27, 2026 | DR Congo vs Uzbekistan | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, GA |
Group K — FIFA World Cup 2026
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🇨🇴 Colombia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🇨🇩 DR Congo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Portugal arrive as one of the tournament’s genuine favourites with a squad combining Cristiano Ronaldo’s experience and a new generation of exceptional technical players. Colombia — led by Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez — are arguably the most dangerous South American side outside of Brazil and Argentina. DR Congo bring physical intensity and pace but limited World Cup experience. Uzbekistan’s realistic target is a third-place finish with enough points to be among the best third-placed qualifiers and advance to the round of 32.
AFC World Cup Qualifying — How Uzbekistan Got Here
Uzbekistan qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup by finishing second in AFC Third Round Group A — just two points behind Iran, who topped the group. It was a campaign built on defensive solidity and clinical attacking play: both head-to-head matches against Iran ended in draws, and a composed home win over UAE in October 2024 proved to be the decisive result that kept Uzbekistan on track. They scored 15 goals and conceded just 8 across 10 matches, with goalkeeper O’tkir Yusupov keeping five clean sheets.
AFC Third Round Group A — 6W 3D 1L · Finished 2nd, Direct Qualification
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇷 Iran | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 7 | 23 |
| 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 21 |
| 🇦🇪 UAE | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 12 | 15 |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 13 |
| 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 20 | 8 |
| 🇰🇵 North Korea | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 18 | 4 |
Uzbekistan 2026 World Cup Kits
Uzbekistan’s 2026 World Cup kits are manufactured by Adidas and draw on the national flag palette of deep blue, white, and turquoise. The home kit features a white base with blue trim and the national crescent and stars motif prominently on the chest — acknowledging the country’s identity on the global stage for the first time. The away kit reverses the colour scheme, using deep blue as the primary colour against white detailing and turquoise highlights.
Uzbekistan at the World Cup — Full Tournament History
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is Uzbekistan’s first-ever appearance at the tournament. After gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Uzbekistan competed in seven consecutive World Cup qualification campaigns without making the finals — coming closest in 2018 when they reached the fourth round of AFC qualifying before being eliminated by Syria in the play-off round. The 2026 qualification marks the end of that long wait and the beginning of a new era for Central Asian football.
| Year | Stage | Notable Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1994–2022 | Did not qualify | Seven failed qualification campaigns across AFC rounds |
| 2026 | First appearance | Group K: Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo |
For a country of 36 million people whose football infrastructure has grown rapidly over the past decade — driven by serious investment in youth academies and the emergence of players like Abdukodir Khusanov at elite European clubs — the 2026 World Cup is both the culmination of that work and the start of something bigger. Every match in the United States will be watched by an entire nation seeing their team at a World Cup for the very first time. That is an experience no result can take away.
Frequently Asked Questions
More World Cup 2026 Team Guides
Explore more team guides from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including Uzbekistan’s Group K rivals and other nations to follow.
