Valeriy Nepomnyashiy highly assesses Uzbekistan's chances to qualify for the World Cup

The former head coach of the Uzbekistan national team, Valeriy Nepomnyashiy, shared his thoughts on the team's chances ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Zamin.uz reports.

According to the experienced specialist, the country's football has developed significantly over the past twenty years.

According to the specialist, football in the country has seen significant development over the last twenty years. Today, the national team can not only participate in a prestigious tournament but also compete for serious results.

In Nepomnyashiy's view, Uzbek football has overcome many systemic problems observed in previous years. The skill level of the players and their confidence on the international stage have reached a completely new level.

The fact that the national team has qualified for the final stage of the World Cup for the first time in its history is itself a strong proof of these positive changes. The former coach noted that the difficulties of the early 2000s have been replaced by systematic development.

According to One.uz, the specialist also highly rated the team's chances of advancing to the playoff stage. In his words, given the current squad and the conditions created, Uzbek footballers are capable of successfully passing the group stage.

Such optimistic forecasts are naturally a great moral boost for fans, as the national team is appearing on the world stage for the first time, and every match will carry historical significance for the country's sports legacy.

Now the main goal is not just to participate, but to showcase the potential of Uzbek football to the whole world. The Uzbekistan national team will face serious opponents in the group stage.

The first match will take place in June against the Colombia national team, followed by games against Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite the strength and experience of the group's opponents, the presence of players who regularly score in top European championships in the current squad gives hope.

For the team led by Fabio Cannavaro, the key factors for success at the World Cup will be discipline and psychological stability. If the players give their all in every match and make full use of their abilities, dreaming of reaching the playoffs is not just a wish—it can become reality.

Valeriy Nepomnyashiy concluded that Uzbek football has stepped into a new era, and this team is fully ready to write a historic result.