Uzbekistan Sends Off National Squad to 2026 FIFA World Cup
The Uzbekistan national football team began its journey to the World Cup following a farewell ceremony in Tashkent on May 22. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was in attendance to personally see off the squad, offering words of encouragement and wishing them success on the global stage.
The Central Asian nation faces a challenging group stage where they will test their mettle against Portugal, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia.
The team will kick off their campaign against the Colombian squad. This opening fixture is scheduled to take place in Mexico City on June 18.
Following their time in Mexico, the players will travel to the United States for their remaining group matches. They are set to face European heavyweights Portugal on June 24 before taking on DR Congo on June 28.
During the tournament, the Uzbek squad will be based at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground. Located in a suburb of Atlanta, this state-of-the-art sports complex will serve as the team’s primary operational and training hub.
The facility originally opened in 2017 following a $60 mln construction project and authorities recently announced a further expansion of the site. The training centre currently boasts six full-sized football pitches.
Four of these feature natural grass surfaces while the remaining two are equipped with artificial turf. Additionally, the complex includes two dedicated warm-up areas to ensure the players remain in peak physical condition throughout the demanding tournament schedule.
