Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov played the full 90 minutes as Uzbekistan suffered a 2-0 defeat to Canada in an international friendly, one of the team’s final preparations before its historic FIFA World Cup debut.
The match was part of a series of warm-up fixtures ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Despite the loss, Uzbekistan’s coaching staff viewed the encounter as valuable preparation against one of the tournament’s co-hosts.
Khusanov, who became the first Uzbek player to join Manchester City and the Premier League, is expected to play a key role in Uzbekistan’s World Cup campaign. The 22-year-old defender has emerged as one of the faces of the national team’s rise on the international stage.
Earlier this week, head coach Fabio Cannavaro named Khusanov and captain Eldor Shomurodov in Uzbekistan’s 26-man squad for the country’s first-ever appearance at the World Cup finals. Uzbekistan will face Colombia, Portugal and DR Congo in Group K.
The tournament marks a historic milestone for Uzbekistan, which became the first Central Asian nation to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
