- Wed, Jun 17 — Uzbekistan vs Colombia — Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City · Group K · 10:00 PM ET
- Tue, Jun 23 — Portugal vs Uzbekistan — Houston Stadium, Houston · Group K · 1:00 PM ET
- Sat, Jun 27 — DR Congo vs Uzbekistan — Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta · Group K · 7:30 PM ET
Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 Kickoff Times
All Uzbekistan kickoff times are shown in your local timezone, auto-detected from your browser. Uzbekistan play their group stage matches in Mexico City, Houston, and Atlanta. Use the timezone selector above to convert match times to ET, GMT, CET, IST, AEST, or any timezone. Set your available hours to see which Uzbekistan matches fit your schedule. For the full tournament schedule, the printable schedule, or a custom calendar, pick the tool that fits.
About Uzbekistan at World Cup 2026
Uzbekistan are World Cup debutants, but this has been a long time coming for a football-mad nation of 36 million people. They've knocked on the door repeatedly over the past two decades, missing out in agonizing fashion virtually every cycle. In 2006, a controversial replay ordered against Bahrain denied them qualification. In 2014, they missed out on goal difference. In 2018, two points separated them from a playoff spot. The pattern of near-misses finally broke this time, and they qualified at the earliest possible opportunity.
Youth development has been the foundation of Uzbekistan's football rise. Their age-group teams have been impressive at international level, including victories against England and Croatia at Under-17 World Cups. Those results hinted at an emerging force, and the current senior squad contains several players who graduated from those successful youth programs. The pipeline from youth football to the national team is producing results.
New coach Fabio Cannavaro was appointed specifically to take Uzbekistan to the next level. The 2006 World Cup-winning captain with Italy knows what it takes to compete at the highest level and has brought tactical discipline and defensive organization. He qualified ahead of established Asian nations in the third round, getting through at the earliest opportunity. The statement of intent was clear.
Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov is the standout name, having gone from Uzbek youth football to the Champions League in just two years. His rapid rise symbolizes the broader trajectory of Uzbek football. Beyond Khusanov, the squad features players from leagues across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, bringing diverse tactical experiences. The team isn't reliant on one or two individuals but rather on a collective understanding developed through years of playing together.
Group K with Portugal, Colombia, and DR Congo is challenging. Portugal and Colombia are the clear favorites, but the DR Congo match is the fixture circled on every calendar. It's a meeting between two nations making statements on the global stage, and the outcome could determine which debutant gets to extend their World Cup experience into the knockout rounds.
This is the first double-landlocked country ever to reach a World Cup, a niche statistic that nevertheless captures the improbability of the achievement. Every minute at this tournament represents a milestone for Uzbek football. Success is about more than results: it's about inspiring the next generation, proving that years of investment in youth development are paying off, and showing the world that Central Asian football belongs on the global stage. If they can produce a result against DR Congo and compete against the bigger names, this debut will be remembered as the beginning of something rather than a one-off novelty.