As the world now turns its attention to the biggest tournament in football, we’ll begin previewing all the teams that will be in Houston this summer. Next up is Uzbekistan. Here’s a closer look at the roster, key storylines, and what to expect from the White Wolves heading into the competition.

Team Information
- FIFA Ranking: 50
- Confederation: AFC
- Manager: Fabio Cannavaro
- Captain: Eldor Shomurodov
- Nickname: White Wolves
- World Cup Appearance: 1st
- Best World Cup Finish: N/A
- World Cup Group: K

How They Qualified

Uzbekistan battled through the arduous Asian qualifying to earn their first ever World Cup berth. They finished second in Group E in the second round, behind Iran to move onto the third round. There, they placed second in Group A, once again behind Iran, to book their ticket to this World Cup.

Qualification Record
- Wins: 10
- Draws: 5
- Losses: 1
- Goals Scored: 27
- Goals Conceded: 11

Notable Qualifying Result

Uzbekistan traveled to Abu Dhabi in June of last season and held the United Arab Emirates to a 0-0 draw, confirming a top two finish in their group and a spot in the World Cup. They lost just once in their 16 qualifying matches, a 3-2 defeat to Qatar after conceding in the 12th minute of second half stoppage time.

Last Five Matches
- Uzbekistan 0-0 Iran (Friendly)
- Uzbekistan 3-1 Gabon (Friendly)
- Uzbekistan 0-0 Venezuela (Friendly)
- Canada 2-0 Uzbekistan (Friendly)
- Netherlands 2-0 Uzbekistan (Friendly)

World Cup Roster

Goalkeepers: Utkir Yusupov (Navbahor Namangan), Abduvohid Nematov (Nasaf), Botirali Ergashev (Neftchi Fergana)

Defenders: Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City), Khojiakbar Alijonov (Pakhtakor), Farrukh Sayfiev (Neftchi Fergana), Rustam Ashurmatov (Esteghlal), Sherzod Nasrullaev (Nasaf), Umar Eshmurodov (Nasaf), Abdulla Abdullaev (Dibba), Bekhruz Karimov (Surkhon Termiz), Avazbek Ulmasaliev (AGMK), Jakhongir Urozov (Dinamo Samarqand)

Midfielders: Akmal Mozgovoy (Pakhtakor), Otabek Shukurov (Baniyas), Jamshid Iskanderov (Neftchi Fergana), Odiljon Hamrobekov (Tractor), Jaloliddin Masharipov (Esteghal), Oston Urunov (Persepolis), Dostonbek Khamdamov (Pakhtakor), Azizjon Ganiev (Al Bataeh), Abbosbek Fayzullaev (İstanbul Başakşehir), Sherzod Esanov (Bukhara)

Forwards: Eldor Shomurodov (İstanbul Başakşehir), Azizbek Amonov (Dinamo Samarqand), Igor Sergeev (Persepolis)

Key Players

Abdukodir Khusanov — Defender, Manchester City

Khusanov is the first ever Uzbek player to play in the English Premier League. He’s the second of his family to play for the national team after his father had 13 caps for Uzbekistan in 2007 and 2008. Pep Guardiola has raved about his reliability and ability to grow and the 22-year-old will now be looked to as the star man for his country in this tournament.

Eldor Shomurodov — Forward, İstanbul Başakşehir F.K.

Shomurodov currently plays in Turkiye but has spent time at some big clubs in Italy like Genoa and Roma. The team’s captain and all-time leading scorer will carry the weight of leading this Uzbek attack as they try and shock the world.

Otabek Shukurov — Midfielder, Baniyas

Shukurov is the creative piece for this team. He will be counted on to be the man who controls play and keeps Uzbekistan composed and moving forward. Look for Shukurov to be on the ball a lot if Uzbekistan can get possession.

Young Player to Watch

Abbosbek Fayzullaev — Midfielder, İstanbul Başakşehir

Fazyullaev was voted as Asia’s best young player in 2023 and he has continued to impress in his development. Now 22-years-old, he scored four goals in qualifying for Uzbekistan and will be a dynamic piece in the attack, either starting or off the bench.

Predicted Starting XI

Biggest Storyline

Uzbekistan suffered heartbreak in the continental qualifiers in both 2006 and 2014 but their time has finally come. Led by former World Cup champion and Ballon d’Or winner Fabio Cannavaro, the White Wolves are the first Central Asian country to ever reach football’s global show piece. They’re also the first double landlocked country to make a World Cup, meaning not only are they landlocked, but every country that borders them is as well.

One Reason They Can Make a Deep Run

Uzbekistan are a big unknown as they have just three players who play club football outside of the Middle East/Central Asia, and two of those play in Turkiye. Teams will prepare they best they can for them but this could play into Uzbekistan’s favor as they potentially could surprise some teams.

One Reason They Could Struggle

For their first World Cup appearance, Uzbekistan were drawn into a very tough group. They have to play Portugal, Colombia, and DR Congo, all teams with considerably more talent. It’s an incredible achievement for Uzbekistan to qualify for this World Cup, and they would have made it even if the field weren’t expanded, but the “happy to be here” label probably fits them well.

Best-Case Scenario
Round of 32

Likely Finish
4th in Group

Floor
Group Stage

Quick Facts

Most Caps in Squad: Eldor Shomurodov - 92
Top Scorer in Squad: Eldor Shomurodov - 44
Average Squad Age: 28.0 years old
Previous World Cup Finish: First appearance

Final Thoughts

For Uzbekistan, simply reaching this World Cup represents the culmination of decades of progress and perseverance. After years of near-misses and heartbreak in qualifying, the White Wolves have finally earned their place among football’s elite and will carry the hopes of an entire region with them. While a challenging group means advancing to the knockout rounds will be a difficult task, Uzbekistan has already shown throughout qualifying that it is a disciplined, resilient side capable of frustrating more established opponents. Led by veterans like Eldor Shomurodov and emerging stars such as Abdukodir Khusanov and Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Uzbekistan arrives at its first World Cup determined to prove it belongs and to continue making history on the sport’s biggest stage.

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