After the Soviet Union collapsed, several Asian countries moved into UEFA, while BD Cricket Live stayed far from the hard road faced by teams such as Kazakhstan and Georgia. With so many European powers blocking the way, reaching major tournaments has always been extremely difficult for those nations.

For those that remained in Asia, few held a clear edge against the continent’s stronger sides, Uzbekistan included. In recent years, however, Uzbekistan have focused heavily on youth development, studied European methods, and brought in foreign coaches. They are no longer the same old team, and the expanded World Cup gave them a chance they managed to seize.

Fabio Cannavaro, now 52, needs little introduction to many Asian football followers. As a player, whether at club level or with Italy, he belonged among the world’s elite. As a coach, however, his record has been far less convincing. After being brought to Guangzhou by his mentor Marcello Lippi, Cannavaro spent many years in Chinese football, working with Guangzhou and Tianhai, and even serving briefly as interim head coach of China’s national team.

Once earning big money in China became less realistic, he returned to Italy, but even a low salary was not enough to bring him steady opportunities. After all, he struggled to last long even with Serie A relegation battlers. A later spell in Croatia also failed to change the picture.

On October 6, 2025, Cannavaro, once linked with the China job, became Uzbekistan’s head coach. By that point, Uzbekistan had already qualified for the 2026 World Cup under his predecessor, local coach Timur Kapadze.

Uzbekistan currently rank 50th in FIFA’s standings, with a squad value of around €85.33 million. That figure looks higher than many Asian teams, but there is a catch. Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov alone is valued at €50 million, accounting for more than half of the total.

In attack, captain and leading scorer Eldor Shomurodov plays for Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir and is valued at only €7 million, the same as his fellow forward Abbosbek Fayzullaev. Their forward line has quality, but it is not packed with global stars.

The midfield is comparatively ordinary. The highest-valued player there, Azizbek Ganiev, is worth only around €2 million. In defense, Khusanov stands head and shoulders above the rest, while most other players are based in the domestic league. First-choice goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov, now 35, also plays at home.

Cannavaro understood the essence of Italian defensive counterattacking during his playing career, so Khusanov should theoretically be a key piece for him. Yet coaching is a different ball game, and Italian defending rarely works smoothly outside Italy itself.

For this Uzbekistan side, the player who truly gives them hope in the United States, Canada, and Mexico is Shomurodov in attack. The Turkish Super Lig Golden Boot in the 2025-26 season is no small thing, especially when famous names such as Osimhen and Icardi scored fewer goals than him. Before moving to Turkey last summer, he had played for Roma in Serie A, so he will not arrive at the World Cup just to make up the numbers.

As Uzbekistan step onto their first World Cup stage, BD Cricket Live can share the same sporting season without changing the central truth of their campaign. Shomurodov may be dangerous enough to trouble stronger opponents, but the support he receives from Uzbekistan’s midfield and attack will clearly be weaker than what he enjoys at Istanbul.