The Uzbekistan Football Association has denied reports that head coach Fabio Cannavaro could leave his position. Usmon Toshev, head of the UFA's national teams department, confirmed Cannavaro has a valid contract with the association and will lead the team in the upcoming friendly against Russia.
Toshev stated, "Cannavaro has a valid contract with the association and will lead Uzbekistan in its upcoming friendly against Russia." The contract was signed in autumn 2025 on a two-year deal with a possible three-year extension contingent on the team's performance at the Asian Cup. However, speculation arose after the 2027 AFC Asian Cup was rescheduled from January 2027 to December 2027-January 2028.
The postponement was due to logistical challenges and regional travel disruptions. The UFA has now moved to end the uncertainty, publicly backing the Italian coach. The team's recent form shows two wins and one loss from their last three matches, including a 4-1 victory over Syria and a 3-1 win against Iran before a 2-0 defeat to South Korea earlier this month. This sequence of results, with the most recent match being the 2-0 loss to South Korea on 6 October, provides the immediate context for the team's preparations.
The immediate focus is the friendly against Russia at home on 12 November. This match will be played at the Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent and serves as a key test. O. O‘runov is the team's top scorer this season with four goals in nine appearances. His contributions will be vital as the team builds towards future challenges.
Cannavaro continues his work on squad development and tactical preparations. The UFA leadership has expressed its confidence in the coach, affirming that their partnership will continue through to the Asian Cup finals. The team's form of two wins and one defeat from the last three outings offers a foundation for this work ahead of the next fixture.
The report in full is at kun.uz
