Srečko Katanec Urges Fans to Lower Expectations for Uzbekistan at 2026 World Cup
Former head coach of Uzbekistan’s national football team, Srečko Katanec, has called on fans not to expect major achievements from the team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Championat Asia reports.
Katanec encouraged Uzbek supporters to focus on enjoying the experience.
«I have one piece of advice for all Uzbek fans: don’t expect anything from the team. Just enjoy your first World Cup. Achieving great results in your first match is never easy. Enjoy the process,» he said.
The coach added that the outcome of the tournament for Uzbekistan would largely depend on their group-stage opponents and «a thousand other factors».
He also pointed to Qatar’s performance at the 2022 World Cup as an example. The host nation lost all three of its group matches and exited the tournament early.
«In the end, that kind of result is normal. Achieving such results in your first match is natural. It means everything is just beginning. Look at Qatar’s example and don’t ask too much of the team,» he concluded.
Kursiv also reports that Timur Kapadze said that the team’s goal is not only to advance from the group stage but to go as far as possible in the playoffs.
