Uzbekistan has officially qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking their first-ever appearance in the tournament. This historic achievement makes them the first nation from Central Asia to reach the World Cup, and only the third former Soviet republic after Russia and Ukraine. The nation secured its place after a 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates on June 5, 2025.
Uzbekistan will compete in Group K of the World Cup. Their schedule is as follows:
- June 17: Uzbekistan vs. Colombia at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City at 10 PM ET.
- June 23: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan at NRG Stadium, Houston at 1 PM ET.
- June 27: Inter-confederation playoff 1 vs. Uzbekistan at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta at 7:30 PM ET.
The World Cup draw took place on December 5, 2025, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. The tournament itself will be held across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. A total of 104 matches will be played, with the final taking place on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Uzbekistan's qualification journey saw them navigate the AFC preliminaries, where they demonstrated a strong defensive record, not conceding a goal in six out of their nine qualifying matches. Key players like Abdukodir Khusanov, who plays for Manchester City, have been instrumental in their success. The team is currently led by Italian World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro.
The nation celebrated their qualification, with fans expressing their joy and support. The players and coaching staff were visibly emotional after securing their spot in the World Cup. The achievement is expected to inspire more young Uzbeks to take up football.
The 2026 World Cup will feature an unprecedented 48 national teams divided into 12 groups. The Group K winner will advance to the Round of 32, where they will face a third-placed team from either Group D, E, I, J, or L. The runner-up in Group K will play against the runner-up in Group L in the Round of 32.
