Uzbekistan compete in Group Eleven of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Record:
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Best Asian Cup finish: Semi-finals in 2011
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First World Cup appearance
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FIFA ranking: 50
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Nickname: The White Wolves
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Top clubs: Pakhtakor Tashkent, Neftchi Fergana
Qualification: With only one defeat in ten matches — against Qatar — Uzbekistan put together a strong Asian qualifying campaign, finishing second behind Iran to book their first ever World Cup place. Notably, the Uzbeks held the more experienced Iranians to two draws.
Coach: Despite overseeing Uzbekistan's historic qualification, Timur Kapadze was demoted in October 2025 when the federation announced his reassignment as assistant to a new head coach — Italian Fabio Cannavaro. Kapadze subsequently resigned, leaving the 2006 world champion to take charge, drawing on his previous coaching experience, notably in China.
Star player: Centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov is the only player in the Uzbek squad to have established himself in one of Europe's major leagues, while his teammates play in the domestic league or in Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and elsewhere. After starting his career in Belarus, the Tashkent native spent two seasons at Lens in France, where his pace and combative defending made him a fixture in the "Blood and Gold" side. He then moved to Manchester City, where — despite fierce competition and his young age (22) — he made 21 Premier League appearances and six in the Champions League this season.
Ambitions: The World Cup represents an entirely new experience for Uzbekistan, and realistically advancing from a group where Portugal are the dominant favourites will be difficult. Colombia and DR Congo also appear to be ahead of them in terms of prospects.