Uzbekistan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
White Wolves compete in Group J at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Manager Timur Kapadze, captain Eldor Shomurodov. AFC qualifier.
Uzbekistan's outlook at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Ranked #57 in the world, Uzbekistan are one of the longer shots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 48-team format and expanded Round of 32 give them a more realistic knockout path than any previous edition.
Uzbekistan face a stacked Group J: the average opponent ranking is #29, -28 places above them on paper. Realistically they are battling for one of the eight best third-placed slots.
The 2026 tournament uses an expanded 48-team, 12-group format with a new Round of 32. That changes the maths for Uzbekistan: the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance, so even a third-place finish in Group J is often enough to reach the knockouts. The first Uzbekistan match of the World Cup is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17 against Paraguay at BC Place.
Group J draw analysis
FIFA Ranking, confederation, and last-appearance finish for every team Uzbekistan face in Group J.
| Team | FIFA Rank | Confederation |
|---|---|---|
| Uzbekistan (this page) | #57 | AFC |
| Netherlands | #7 | UEFA |
| Nigeria | #34 | CAF |
| Paraguay | #47 | CONMEBOL |
Uzbekistan 2026 World Cup fixtures
Players to watch
Get every player's stats - goals, assists, cards, minutes, xG - via the player stats endpoint for competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}.
Uzbekistan World Cup history
Uzbekistan have appeared at 1 previous FIFA World Cups. Their best finish remains Debut. Across the last five tournaments they recorded: Debut.
Get Uzbekistan data via API
// Fetch Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 matches
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.thestatsapi.com/api/football/matches?competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}&team=uzbekistan',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const { data } = await response.json();Frequently Asked Questions
What group is Uzbekistan in at the 2026 World Cup?
Uzbekistan is in Group J alongside Netherlands, Nigeria, Paraguay. The average opponent FIFA ranking in Group J is #29.
Who is Uzbekistan's manager at the 2026 World Cup?
Timur Kapadze manages Uzbekistan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Eldor Shomurodov as captain.
What is Uzbekistan's best World Cup finish?
Uzbekistan's best FIFA World Cup finish is Debut. They have appeared in 1 previous World Cup tournaments. Recent form: Debut.
Who are Uzbekistan's key players at the 2026 World Cup?
Captain Eldor Shomurodov leads a squad whose standout names include Eldor Shomurodov, Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Khusayin Norchaev. The full 26-player squad is named approximately one week before the opening match.
How did Uzbekistan qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
AFC qualifier. They came through the AFC qualifying pathway.
What is Uzbekistan's current FIFA Ranking?
Uzbekistan are ranked #57 in the world by FIFA at the time of the 2026 World Cup draw. Ranked #57 in the world, Uzbekistan are one of the longer shots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 48-team format and expanded Round of 32 give them a more realistic knockout path than any previous edition.
What are Uzbekistan's chances of winning the 2026 World Cup?
Uzbekistan face a stacked Group J: the average opponent ranking is #29, -28 places above them on paper. Realistically they are battling for one of the eight best third-placed slots. Ranked #57 in the world, Uzbekistan are one of the longer shots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 48-team format and expanded Round of 32 give them a more realistic knockout path than any previous edition.
How can I get Uzbekistan fixtures and stats via API?
Use TheStatsAPI matches endpoint with competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} and filter by team_id to get all Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 fixtures, lineups, live scores, in-play events, xG, and player-level stats. The same endpoint also returns historical World Cup data for Uzbekistan going back to their first tournament.
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