Fabio Cannavaro named Uzbekistan’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 2. The White Wolves reach football’s biggest stage for the first time, and a 2006 World Cup winner now leads them. Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov headlines the group. Eldor Shomurodov captains the side in Group K.
The Uzbekistan World Cup Squad 2026 leans on the home league, with 15 of the 26 players based in the Uzbekistan Super League. Khusanov is the only man playing top European football. Uzbekistan go in ranked 50th in the world. Shomurodov, the all-time top scorer with 44 goals, leads an attack built around domestic talent.
This is your full Uzbekistan squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Uzbekistan 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Utkir Yusupov | Navbahor | 35 | 39 | 0 |
| GK | Abduvohid Nematov | Nasaf | 25 | 13 | 0 |
| GK | Botirali Ergashev | Neftchi | 30 | 3 | 0 |
| DF | Abdukodir Khusanov | Manchester City | 22 | 25 | 0 |
| DF | Khojiakbar Alijonov | Pakhtakor | 29 | 51 | 3 |
| DF | Farrukh Sayfiev | Neftchi | 35 | 64 | 1 |
| DF | Rustam Ashurmatov | Esteghlal | 29 | 47 | 1 |
| DF | Umar Eshmurodov | Nasaf | 33 | 39 | 0 |
| DF | Sherzod Nasrullaev | Pakhtakor | 27 | 35 | 2 |
| DF | Abdulla Abdullaev | Dibba | 28 | 27 | 0 |
| DF | Avazbek Ulmasaliev | AGMK | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| DF | Jakhongir Urozov | Dinamo | 22 | 2 | 1 |
| DF | Behruz Karimov | Surkhon | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| MF | Akmal Mozgovoy | Pakhtakor | 26 | 23 | 1 |
| MF | Otabek Shukurov | Baniyas | 29 | 86 | 9 |
| MF | Jamshid Iskanderov | Neftchi | 32 | 42 | 4 |
| MF | Odiljon Hamrobekov | Tractor | 30 | 71 | 1 |
| MF | Jaloliddin Masharipov | Esteghlal | 32 | 73 | 12 |
| MF | Oston Urunov | Persepolis | 25 | 42 | 10 |
| MF | Dostonbek Khamdamov | Pakhtakor | 29 | 35 | 5 |
| MF | Azizjon Ganiev | Al Bataeh | 28 | 22 | 0 |
| MF | Abbosbek Fayzullayev | İstanbul Başakşehir | 22 | 30 | 8 |
| MF | Sherzod Esanov | Bukhara | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| FW | Eldor Shomurodov (C) | İstanbul Başakşehir | 30 | 90 | 44 |
| FW | Igor Sergeev | Persepolis | 33 | 81 | 24 |
| FW | Azizbek Amonov | Dinamo | 28 | 11 | 2 |
(C) = captain. Caps and goals are pre-tournament figures as of June 1, 2026.
For all 48 team final selections and more, see our World Cup 2026 squads hub.
Quick Stats
Key numbers from Cannavaro’s historic first World Cup squad.
- Average age: 27.9 years
- Most-capped player: Eldor Shomurodov (90 caps)
- Top scorer in the squad: Eldor Shomurodov (44 international goals)
- Uzbekistan Super League players: 15, led by four from Pakhtakor
- Players based abroad: 11, across Iran, the UAE, Türkiye, and England
- Youngest player: Behruz Karimov (18)
- Oldest player: Utkir Yusupov (35)
- World Cup debutants: all 26 players, since this is Uzbekistan’s first finals squad
Key Players to Watch
Eldor Shomurodov (C) | İstanbul Başakşehir
Shomurodov is the most important player Uzbekistan has. The 30-year-old captain is the country’s all-time top scorer with 44 goals in 90 caps. He has led the line in Italy and Türkiye and reads the box well. His finishing carries the whole attack.
Abdukodir Khusanov | Manchester City
Khusanov is the squad’s prize asset and its only top European name. The 22-year-old centre-back joined City from Lens for around 40 million euros in January 2025, the first Uzbek in the Premier League. He brings rare recovery pace. He has barely played, so sharpness is the worry.
Abbosbek Fayzullayev | İstanbul Başakşehir
Fayzullayev is the creative spark and the future of this team. The 22-year-old has eight goals in 30 caps and links play between midfield and attack. He drifts inside to find pockets and threads the final pass. His club move to Türkiye sped up his rise.
Otabek Shukurov | Baniyas
Shukurov is the midfield anchor who lets the rest push on. The 29-year-old has 86 caps, second only to Shomurodov in this squad. He shields the defence and recycles possession at a steady tempo. His discipline matters against Portugal and Colombia.
Igor Sergeev | Persepolis
Sergeev is the experienced poacher who shares the goal load. The 33-year-old has 24 international goals and a knack for arriving late in the box. He gives Cannavaro a second striking option off Shomurodov.
Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 Schedule
Uzbekistan play across Mexico and the United States, opening in Mexico City before games in Houston and Atlanta. Local kick-off times are listed in both Eastern Time (ET) and Uzbekistan Time (UZT) for fans back home. Uzbekistan sits at UTC+5, nine hours ahead of ET, so two of the three games kick off overnight in Tashkent.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (UZT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2026 | Colombia | Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca), Mexico City | 10:00 PM | 7:00 AM (Jun 18) |
| Jun 23, 2026 | Portugal | Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium), Houston, TX | 1:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| Jun 27, 2026 | DR Congo | Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Atlanta, GA | 7:30 PM | 4:30 AM (Jun 28) |
All kick-off times follow the official FIFA match schedule, with group positions confirmed from the December 5, 2025 draw. Uzbekistan lost their final warm-up 2-0 to Canada in Edmonton on June 1. Check the full 2026 World Cup schedule for knockout fixtures once the group stage ends.
How Uzbekistan Qualified for World Cup 2026
Uzbekistan reached the World Cup through the AFC third round, drawn in Group A with Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, and North Korea. The top two went straight to the finals. Uzbekistan built one of Asia’s meanest defences and held second place behind Iran.
The historic moment came on June 5, 2025. Uzbekistan drew 0-0 with the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi, and the point sealed a top-two finish with a game to spare. The result made Uzbekistan the first Central Asian nation to reach a World Cup. Captain Shomurodov and a young core had finally broken through.
Uzbekistan then won the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup in September, beating Iran in the final. That run across Asian football set the stage for Cannavaro’s appointment.
Head Coach: Fabio Cannavaro
Fabio Cannavaro was born on September 13, 1973 in Naples, Italy. He captained Italy to the 2006 World Cup title and won the Ballon d’Or that same year, a rare feat for a defender. He took the Uzbekistan job on October 6, 2025, with a contract that runs through the 2026 finals.
Cannavaro inherited a side already qualified by caretaker Timur Kapadze, and he kept its defensive backbone. His Uzbekistan sit deep, stay compact, and look to spring Shomurodov and Fayzullayev on the counter. The approach fits a squad short on elite attacking depth but rich in organisation.
Group K at a Glance
Uzbekistan are in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and DR Congo. Here is how the group looks going in.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 6th | 8 (1966-2022) | Third place (1966) |
| Colombia | 13th | 6 (1962-2018) | Quarterfinals (2014) |
| Uzbekistan | 50th | Debut (2026) | Debut tournament |
| DR Congo | 56th | 1 (1974) | Group stage (1974) |
Rankings from the November 2025 FIFA update, used for seeding at the December 5, 2025 draw. World Cup appearances are pre-2026 figures.
Portugal arrive as group favourites with Cristiano Ronaldo at his sixth World Cup. Colombia carry South American flair and real knockout pedigree. DR Congo are the other dark horse, back at the finals after 52 years. Uzbekistan have never met any of the three at a World Cup, so every game writes new history. See the full breakdown at the 2026 World Cup groups hub.
FAQ About Uzbekistan World Cup Squad 2026
What is Uzbekistan’s nickname?
Uzbekistan are known as the White Wolves, or Oq Bo’rilar in Uzbek. The wolf is a symbol of strength and unity in Turkic culture, and fans have rallied behind the name during the qualifying run.
Has Uzbekistan come close to a World Cup before 2026?
Yes, painfully. In 2005 Uzbekistan beat Bahrain in an Asian playoff, but FIFA annulled the first leg over a refereeing error. The replay finished level and Bahrain went through on away goals. The 2026 finals are their first ever.
Who is Uzbekistan’s all-time most-capped player?
Server Djeparov holds the record with 128 caps between 2002 and 2017. The two-time Asian Footballer of the Year is retired, so Shomurodov leads the current squad on 90.
What kit does Uzbekistan wear at the 2026 World Cup?
Uzbekistan wear 7Saber, a homegrown Uzbek brand, for the 2026 finals. The home kit keeps the traditional all-white look that gives the White Wolves their name.
Uzbekistan’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Uzbekistan World Cup Squad 2026 is built to defend first and counter fast. Cannavaro has a tight back line, a world-class talent in Khusanov, and a proven scorer in Shomurodov. Portugal and Colombia are clear favourites, which leaves Uzbekistan and DR Congo fighting for the outside chance.
Eight third-placed teams reach the Round of 32, so Uzbekistan doesn’t need to finish second to advance. A draw with DR Congo and a smash-and-grab against Colombia could be enough. Reaching the finals already changed the story.
