The Uzbekistan national team will face a serious test against Venezuela
The Uzbekistan national team is undergoing an even more serious test in the 2026 FIFA Series campaign. Zamin.uz reported on this.
The national team under the management of Fabio Cannavaro will take to the field against Venezuelan players on March 30 in Tashkent. The hosts started the tournament in great style, defeating the Gabon national team with a score of three to one.
This victory strengthened confidence around the team and visibly demonstrated how much Uzbek football has risen before the next major international competition. The second match is generating even greater interest.
Because Venezuela also started the tournament with a confident victory. The South American representative defeated Trinidad and Tobago four to one in their first match in Tashkent, demonstrating sharpness in attack and the ability to capitalize on opponents' mistakes.
This result created an attractive clash between two teams that have made strong starts, giving them the opportunity to test themselves against a more serious opponent. Another factor adding to the interest is related to the latest update of the FIFA rankings.
Uzbekistan rose two positions, moving up to fortieth place, previously held by Venezuela. Following the latest update, Venezuela also moved up and is now ranked forty-first.
Thus, the two teams are separated by only one position. This situation reflects how evenly this contest could go on paper and adds even more significance to the match, which has already been seen as one of the central games of the tournament.
Although Venezuela will not participate in the 2026 World Cup, the team showed enough performance during the qualification stage to earn respect. They narrowly missed advancing to the next round and achieved notable draws against Argentina and Brazil.
These results took their place among the major surprises of the South American campaign. At the same time, inconsistency remains a primary issue.
Venezuela lost their last three consecutive matches, and it was precisely this unlucky streak that led to the departure of head coach Fernando Batista. Initially, Osvaldo Viscarrondo took charge as interim coach and was later confirmed as the team's permanent head coach.
His appointment marks the beginning of a transition period for Venezuela, and the team is expected to gradually move towards a style based on more pressing, greater ball possession, and combination play. However, such tactical changes may require time.
The team still seems more comfortable launching quick attacks into open spaces rather than patiently building up play against organized defenses. In terms of squad value and the reputation of individual players, Venezuela possesses quality capable of causing problems for any opponent at this level.
The team is valued at approximately seven million euros, with Jon Aramburu being its most expensive player. Jefferson Savarino and Cristian Cásseres also add significant quality, while the 36-year-old Salomón Rondón remains a leading figure in attack.
His experience and technical skills can play a decisive role in every match. Source: One.uz
