Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 Squad: Cannavaro Names 40-Man Provisional List

The Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 squad is taking shape under head coach Fabio Cannavaro. The Italian named a 40-player provisional list on May 6, 2026, ahead of a three-week training camp in Tashkent. Cannavaro must trim it to a final 26-man roster before the June 1 FIFA deadline.

This is a historic moment. Uzbekistan will play at their first ever World Cup as an independent nation. They are also the first Central Asian country to qualify for the tournament.

Quick Facts: Uzbekistan at World Cup 2026

Head coach	Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
Captain	Eldor Shomurodov (Başakşehir, on loan from Roma)
Star player	Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City)
Group	K (Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo)
FIFA ranking	50 (April 1, 2026)
World Cup history	First appearance
Qualification record	6W 3D 1L (21 points, second in AFC Group A)
Provisional squad	40 players (announced May 6, 2026)
Final squad deadline	June 1, 2026
Squad size	26 players

Cannavaro Takes Charge

Fabio Cannavaro replaced interim coach Temur Kapadze in October 2025 after qualification was sealed. The 2006 World Cup winner brings serious pedigree. He lifted the trophy with Italy as captain and won the Ballon d’Or that same year.

His record with Uzbekistan looks strong. Cannavaro opened with a 2-0 friendly win over Kuwait on October 9, 2025. The team then lost 1-2 to Uruguay four days later, the only defeat under his charge so far. Wins over Egypt and Gabon plus draws with Iran and Venezuela have followed.

Cannavaro prefers a 3-4-2-1 system. His style leans on defensive organization and quick transitions. He has stated publicly that Uzbekistan’s identity will come from discipline and taking their chances rather than high pressing.

Headline Names in the Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 Squad

Abdukodir Khusanov

The Manchester City defender is the squad’s biggest name. He moved to the Premier League from Lens for £33.5 million in January 2025, becoming the first Uzbek player to sign for a Premier League club. His Champions League experience gives Uzbekistan a defensive backbone that previous generations lacked.

Eldor Shomurodov

The captain plays his club football for İstanbul Başakşehir on loan from AS Roma. The 30-year-old forward has 41 goals in 81 senior caps for Uzbekistan, per Football Italia. He scored against Qatar in June 2025 to seal qualification.

Abbosbek Fayzullaev

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder joined İstanbul Başakşehir from CSKA Moscow. He is one of Uzbekistan’s most creative players and was named the team’s breakout star at the 2024 AFC Asian Cup.

Otabek Shukurov

The Al Fayha midfielder anchors the team’s engine room. He brings Saudi Pro League experience and tactical discipline to Cannavaro’s setup.

Provisional Squad: Position Breakdown

The 40-player list balances experienced foreign-based talent with players from the domestic Super League.

Goalkeepers (4)

• Vladimir Nazarov (Pakhtakor)
• Utkir Yusupov (Foolad, Iran)
• Abduvohid Nematov (Nasaf)
• Botirali Ergashev (Neftchi)

Defenders

• Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City, England)
• Rustam Ashurmatov (Rubin Kazan, Russia)
• Khusniddin Alikulov (Rizespor, Turkey)
• Khojiakbar Alijonov (Pakhtakor)
• Abdulla Abdullaev (Pakhtakor)
• Umar Eshmurodov (Nasaf)
• Farrukh Sayfiev (Neftchi)
• Sherzod Nasrullaev (Nasaf)
• Ibrohimkhalil Yuldoshev (Pakhtakor)

Midfielders

• Abbosbek Fayzullaev (Başakşehir, Turkey)
• Otabek Shukurov (Al Fayha, Saudi Arabia)
• Oston Urunov (Persepolis, Iran)
• Jaloliddin Masharipov (Istiklol)
• Odil Hamrobekov (Bunyodkor)
• Jamshid Iskanderov (Neftchi)
• Akmal Mozgovoy (Nasaf)
• Abdurauf Buriev (Pakhtakor)
• Ruslan Jiyanov (Navbahor)
• Khojimat Erkinov (Al Wahda, UAE)

Forwards

• Eldor Shomurodov (Başakşehir, Turkey, on loan from AS Roma)
• Bobur Abdikholikov (Slovan Bratislava)
• Igor Sergeev (Pakhtakor)

The full 40-man list also features younger prospects competing for late spots.

Key Injury Concerns

Cannavaro is monitoring several fitness issues. Players listed as injured during the May camp include Jaloliddin Masharipov, Khusain Norchaev, Behruz Karimov, Abdulla Abdullaev, Azizjon Ganiev, and Sherzod Temirov. Their availability for the final squad will depend on recovery timelines.

Group K Path

Uzbekistan face a tough draw in Group K.

Match	Date (ET)	Opponent	Venue
Match 1	June 17, 2026 (10pm)	Colombia	Mexico City Stadium
Match 2	June 23, 2026 (1pm)	Portugal	NRG Stadium, Houston
Match 3	June 27, 2026 (7:30pm)	DR Congo	Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

The DR Congo fixture on June 27 looks like Uzbekistan’s best chance for three points. Cannavaro will likely build his squad selection around that match. Portugal and Colombia are the group favorites, but the new 48-team format gives third-placed teams a path to the knockout round.

Training Camp Schedule

The squad is training at the National Football Centre in Tashkent from May 6 to May 26, 2026. Cannavaro has scheduled closed-door friendly matches against Uzbekistan Super League clubs. These games let him test tactical schemes and assess form.

Foreign-based stars including Khusanov, Shomurodov, Fayzullaev and Shukurov will join the camp once their club seasons end.

What to Expect

Uzbekistan will be one of the lesser-known squads at World Cup 2026. Most of the players ply their trade domestically or in nearby leagues. But Khusanov’s Premier League pedigree and Cannavaro’s tactical pragmatism give them tools to surprise people.

The final 26-man Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 squad must be submitted to FIFA by June 1, 2026. Cannavaro has three weeks of camp matches to make his calls.

Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 Squad FAQ