Uzbekistan has secured a historic spot in the FIFA World Cup, marking the tournament debut for the national team known as the White Wolves.
The squad successfully navigated a grueling Asian qualification campaign to earn their place on the global stage.
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The qualification journey began under Srecko Katanec in 2021, who implemented a highly effective 3-4-3 tactical system.
Subsequent managers Timur Kapadze and now Fabio Cannavaro chose to maintain this strategic formation throughout the campaign.
During the initial group phase, Uzbekistan progressed smoothly by defeating Turkmenistan and Hong Kong, while also holding powerhouse Iran to two draws.
The subsequent round proved favorable, allowing the team to avoid heavyweights like Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
The White Wolves demonstrated remarkable consistency across both qualification rounds, suffering only a single 3-2 defeat against Qatar out of 16 total matches.
Notably, all four encounters against regional giants Iran concluded in competitive stalemates.
Goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov played a definitive role in the historic qualification run.
The national number one made crucial penalty saves during two separate matches against North Korea, securing vital points for his team.
Management changes occurred unexpectedly during the qualifiers due to the deteriorating health of Katanec.
The Slovenian tactician missed several matches in Tashkent before officially stepping down from his post in January 2025.
"If I leave the national team for the third time due to health reasons, I will never return," Katanec said in the summer of 2024.
