Uzbekistan entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the tournament’s debutant nations, carrying the hopes of a country that had spent years trying to reach football’s biggest event.

Known as the White Wolves, Uzbekistan became the first Central Asian nation to play in a FIFA World Cup. Their opening Group K match was against Colombia in Mexico City, a major moment not only for Uzbek football but also for the wider region.

Uzbekistan were placed in Group K alongside Colombia, Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo. After the Colombia match, they were scheduled to face Portugal next Tuesday before completing their group campaign against Congo on June 28.

The team were one of four World Cup newcomers at the 2026 tournament, along with Cape Verde, Curacao and Jordan. Among them, Cape Verde had already drawn attention by holding Spain to a draw, while Curacao and Jordan lost their first matches.

Uzbekistan’s qualification ended a long wait for the country. The White Wolves had come close several times in previous campaigns, but they had never managed to secure a place at the finals.

In the latest qualifying campaign, Uzbekistan began in Group E with Iran, Turkmenistan and Hong Kong. They finished level with Iran but took second place on goal difference.

In the decisive third round, Uzbekistan again faced Iran, along with Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. They collected 21 points from 10 matches and finished second behind Iran, which was enough to confirm their first World Cup appearance.

The early part of the campaign was led by Slovenian coach Srecko Katanec, who had taken charge in 2021 and helped shape the current squad. After he stepped down because of health concerns, former Uzbekistan midfielder Timur Kapadze guided the team through the final stage of qualification.

For the World Cup itself, Uzbekistan appointed Fabio Cannavaro, one of football’s most recognised defenders. Cannavaro won the Ballon d’Or and captained Italy to the 2006 World Cup title.

The squad included several important names, although many players still played in Uzbekistan’s domestic league. The most widely known player was Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

Khusanov became the first Uzbek footballer to play in the English Premier League. His move from French club RC Lens to Manchester City, worth €40 million, made him the most expensive footballer in both Uzbekistan and Central Asian football history.

Captain Eldor Shomurodov led the attack. The 30-year-old striker spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Istanbul Basaksehir from AS Roma and finished as the Turkish Super Lig’s joint top scorer with 22 goals in 34 matches.

Shomurodov was also Uzbekistan’s all-time leading scorer, with 44 goals in 91 international appearances. Another key player was winger Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who joined Basaksehir from CSKA Moscow and recorded eight goal contributions in 20 league matches during his first season at the Turkish club.

Together, this group represented a new chapter for Uzbek football. Their World Cup debut gave the White Wolves a chance to show how far the country had progressed and how strongly Central Asian football was beginning to emerge on the global stage.