Uzbekistan's football federation has taken a monumental step in its sporting history by naming a 40-player preliminary squad for the nation's inaugural FIFA World Cup preparation camp. The announcement, made by the Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA), marks the beginning of the team's formal buildup to the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The squad will be overseen by head coach Fabio Cannavaro, the legendary Italian defender who captained his nation to victory at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and won the Ballon d'Or that same year. His appointment brings a wealth of elite experience to a team making its debut on the world's biggest stage. The camp is scheduled to run for three weeks, from May 6th to May 26th, within Uzbekistan.
The list includes the team's captain, forward Eldor Shomurodov, who plays for İstanbul Başakşehir in Turkey. He is joined by one of the most exciting young defenders in European football, Abdukodir Khusanov, who has been making waves at Manchester City in the English Premier League. The midfield will be anchored by experienced playmaker Otabek Shukurov from Baniyas in the UAE.
Several players included in the camp are currently managing injuries. Forward Khusain Norchaev from Navbahor and winger Jaloliddin Masharipov from Esteghlal in Iran are both named, indicating the coaching staff is monitoring their recovery ahead of the final squad selection.
This World Cup berth is the culmination of decades of effort for Uzbekistan. The UFA was founded in 1946 and joined the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1994 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Since first entering Asian qualifying for the 1998 France World Cup, the team reached the final qualifying round on six separate occasions but always fell short of qualification until now.
Their success in the qualifiers for the 2026 tournament finally broke that barrier. Uzbekistan's strong performances in the AFC qualifiers secured their place, validating the progress seen in their youth national teams, which have consistently performed well in Asian competitions in recent years.
The final 26-man squad for the World Cup is set to be announced on June 2nd. Uzbekistan has been drawn into Group K for the tournament, where they will face a formidable set of opponents. Their opening match will be against Colombia, followed by a clash with Portugal, and a final group stage game against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The inclusion of players from a wide array of domestic and international clubs highlights the growing profile of Uzbek football. The squad features talent from top Iranian clubs like Esteghlal and Persepolis, Turkish sides, and leagues in the UAE, Azerbaijan, and Iraq, in addition to the domestic Uzbekistan Super League.
As the team prepares for this historic campaign, all eyes will be on how Cannavaro molds this group of players into a cohesive unit capable of competing against some of the world's best national teams. The camp represents the first tangible step in Uzbekistan's journey from World Cup newcomers to contenders on the global stage.
Based on reporting from サッカーキング.