Uzbekistan national team head coach Fabio Cannavaro has publicly backed FIFA President Gianni Infantino. This move came after the Italian football federation (FIGC) withdrew its support, as reported by Associated Press. Cannavaro praised Infantino's work over the past decade in a social media post.
What did Cannavaro say?
Fabio Cannavaro countered a group of other former players calling for change in FIFA's leadership on his social media channels. The 2006 World Cup-winning Italian centre-back wrote: "Over the last ten years, world football has improved." Cannavaro added: "Infantino has done a great job... Not acknowledging that would be intellectually dishonest." His comments followed the Italian federation's decision to drop its backing of Infantino over his now-abandoned plan to seek private investment for the World Cup.
What is Uzbekistan's current situation?
This news arrives during a difficult World Cup qualifying phase for the Uzbekistan national team. They sit 4th in their group with 0 points, having recorded 0 wins, 0 draws, and 3 losses. In those three matches, they have scored only 2 goals while conceding 11, for a goal difference of -9. They trail group leaders Colombia by 7 points. Their last result was a 3-1 defeat to Congo DR on June 27, 2026, marking their fifth consecutive loss. You can track Uzbekistan's recent results on our stats page.
The wider FIFA leadership context
Besides Italy, several other European national associations including England, Ireland, and Wales have also scrapped their backing of Infantino. FIGC president Giovanni Malago said the decision was meant to clearly express the federation's position regarding the FIFA president's recent initiatives on the governance and development of international competitions. However, Cannavaro was joined by other former players like Brazilians Cafu and Roberto Carlos, Argentines Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso, Colombia's Ivan Ramiro Cordoba, and Mexico's Jared Borgetti in supporting Infantino. Cafu wrote on social media that he had followed FIFA's work to promote player representation.
The upcoming task for Uzbekistan
Head coach Cannavaro's added voice in the FIFA leadership debate comes as his team prepares for a crucial period. The Uzbekistan national team continues its preparations for its next fixture, an away match against South Korea on October 6, 2026. This match represents a significant opportunity for the team, as they seek to improve their standing in the group. The team's position in the group can be followed on our standings page. Cannavaro's stance during these international discussions may reflect Uzbekistan's growing profile on the global football stage.
