Fakayejo Paul
Tashkent, Uzbekistan—The Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA) has made a monumental move ahead of their historic 2026 FIFA World Cup debut, officially naming Italian legend and former Ballon d’Or winner Fabio Cannavaro as the new head coach of the national team.
The World Cup-winning captain will immediately take the reins of the “White Wolves” as they begin preparations for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico—the first time the Central Asian nation has ever qualified for the global finals.
In a statement released Monday, the UFA confirmed the signing, touting the 52-year-old’s unparalleled pedigree. Cannavaro was not only the captain of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning side but also the recipient of the prestigious Ballon d’Or award that same year.
The appointment sees Cannavaro replace local icon Timur Kapadze, who successfully guided the nation through the qualification process.
The UFA, however, opted for a manager with greater international experience to lead them on the world stage.
Cannavaro’s coaching career has largely been in Asia, including a successful spell at Guangzhou Evergrande where he won the Chinese Super League.
He will be joined by a technical staff of fellow Italians, aiming to instill a winning mentality into the squad, which features talents like Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov and Roma forward Eldor Shomurodov.
The UFA stated that Cannavaro has signed a two-year contract, making his focus clear: preparing Uzbekistan to make a memorable debut at the biggest football tournament in the world.
This is a bold and ambitious move by Uzbekistan as they look to leave their mark on the 2026 World Cup.