Uzbekistan has unveiled its final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the country’s first appearance at football’s biggest tournament. The national team, led by Italian head coach Fabio Cannavaro, will compete at the tournament hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The squad announcement follows Uzbekistan’s historic qualification campaign, which saw the team become the first Central Asian nation to reach the FIFA World Cup finals.
Uzbekistan secured qualification during the AFC Asian Qualifiers after a consistent run of results in the second and third qualifying rounds. The decisive moment came on 5 June 2025, when the team earned a goalless draw against the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi, securing a top-two finish in their group and a direct place at the World Cup.
During the qualification process, Uzbekistan faced teams including Iran, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkmenistan and Hong Kong at different stages of the AFC qualifiers. The team finished its campaign strongly with a 3–0 victory over Qatar in Tashkent.
FIFA described the achievement as a historic breakthrough after several decades of near misses in previous qualification campaigns.
Uzbekistan will compete in Group K at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team is scheduled to face Colombia on 18 June, Portugal on 23 June and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 28 June.
Football analysts have highlighted Uzbekistan’s disciplined defence as one of the team’s key strengths throughout qualification, with players such as Abdukodir Khusanov and Eldor Shomurodov expected to play leading roles during the tournament.
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destructio...
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuw...
Uzbekistan is stepping up efforts to develop its Islamic finance sector, with policymakers, financial experts and industry leaders gathering in Tashke...
Azerbaijan should unlock the full potential of its tourism sector to drive long-term economic growth, diversify its economy and create jobs as reliance on hydrocarbons declines, the World Bank has said.
The South Caucasus is increasingly being viewed not only through the lens of past conflicts but also as a strategic bridge linking Europe, the Caspian region and Central Asia. One analyst says this presents an opportunity for a new Euro-Atlantic approach focused on long-term regional cooperation.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), allowing Russian athletes to compete in many international events, including qualifying competitions for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gifted each NATO leader a revolver engraved with their name, along with ammunition at the alliance’s summit in Ankara.
The U.S. says it has launched strikes on Iran after alleged attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington described the action as a response to threats against civilian shipping and a breach of the ceasefire.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
Typhoon Bavi churned southeast of Taiwan in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, its winds easing overnight to just shy of 200 kph (124 mph), as authorities urged residents to stock up on supplies and brace for what could be the most powerful typhoon since 2024.
NATO leaders are unveiling multi-billion-dollar arms deals in Ankara as President Donald Trump joins the summit, highlighting Europe's increased defence spending amid tensions over Russia and Iran, and following years of U.S. criticism of the alliance.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
This is the last of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea which lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
This is the third of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea which lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
This is the second of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea which lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Uzbekistan is stepping up efforts to develop its Islamic finance sector, with policymakers, financial experts and industry leaders gathering in Tashkent to explore reforms aimed at attracting investment from the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Azerbaijan should unlock the full potential of its tourism sector to drive long-term economic growth, diversify its economy and create jobs as reliance on hydrocarbons declines, the World Bank has said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment