Uzbekistan Announces Extended 30-Man Squad Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Head coach of the Uzbekistan national football team Fabio Cannavaro has announced an expanded list of 30 players for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to the Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA).

According to the UFA, the national team will depart for the United States on 26 May via a Tashkent–New York flight, where it will hold a training camp. As part of the preparation, two friendly matches are scheduled — against Canada on 1 June and against the Netherlands on 8 June.

The final World Cup squad will consist of 26 players, meaning the coaching staff will need to exclude four players before the tournament begins.

UFA First Vice President Ravshan Irmatov previously explained that the additional four players were included as a reserve group in case of injuries.

The expanded squad includes the following players:

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

Defenders: Rustamjon Ashurmatov (Istiklol, Iran), Umarbek Eshmuradov (Nasaf), Avazbek Ulmasaliev (AGMK), Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City, England), Abdullah Abdullaev (Dibba, UAE), Jakhongir Urozov (Dinamo), Khojiakbar Alijonov (Pakhtakor), Bekhruz Karimov (Surkhan), Ruslanbek Yiyanov (Navbahor), Farrukh Sayfiev (Neftchi), Sherzod Nasrullaev (Pakhtakor), Umaraali Rakhmonaliev (Sabah, Azerbaijan).

Midfielders: Azizbek Ganiev (Al Bataeh, UAE), Akmal Mozgovoy (Pakhtakor), Sherzod Esanov (Bukhara), Otabek Shukurov (Baniyas, UAE), Odiljon Hamrobekov (Tractor, Iran), Dostonbek Hamdamov (Pakhtakor), Jamshid Iskanderov (Neftchi), Jashur Jaloliddinov (Sogdiana).

Forwards: Abbosbek Fayzullaev (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey), Oston Urunov (Persepolis, Iran), Jaloliddin Masharipov (Esteghlal, Iran), Azizbek Amonov (Dinamo), Eldor Shomurodov (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey), Igor Sergeev (Persepolis, Iran), Sherzod Temirov (Erbil, Iraq).

It is also reported that several players were not included in the final travel list to the United States, and Ibrahimkhalil Yuldoshev will miss the tournament due to injury.

Uzbekistan will compete in Group K at the World Cup 2026 alongside Colombia, Portugal, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The team will open its campaign on 18 June against Colombia in Mexico City.