The Russian specialist underestimated the capabilities of the Uzbekistan national team

From June 11 to July 19, 2026, a draw was drawn for the World Cup, a major football event featuring the US, Canada, and Mexico on the stage, and the 48 participating national teams were officially divided into groups. According to the draw results, the Uzbekistan national team ended up in the same group with very difficult opponents.

The Uzbekistan national team will face Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, and Colombia, led by James Rodriguez. The final participant in Group "K" will be either the Democratic Republic of Congo, New Caledonia, or Jamaica - determined by the winner of the playoffs.

After the draw, football experts began analyzing the potential of the teams that qualified for the World Cup. Igor Kolivanov, former striker of the Russian national team, who played for the Italian clubs "Foggia" and "Bologna," drew the attention of Uzbek football fans.

According to Kolivanov, a distinctive feature of this championship is the concentration of two favorites and several mid-range teams in each group. The common goal is to attract more national teams to the World Cup and expand competition.

According to the expert, interesting and intense matches are more often observed in the playoff matches than in the group stage. However, in some groups, there is a high probability of unexpected results and surprises.

When it came to Uzbekistan's capabilities, Kolivanov chose a very cautious and realistic assessment:

"In my opinion, Uzbekistan is not yet at the level where it can make serious claims. Also, I can't imagine expecting sensation from them. Of course, Uzbeks are a fighting and combative team, they will give their all on the field. But the class of Portugal and Colombia cannot be ruled out," he said.

The Uzbekistan national team will play its first World Cup match in its history on June 18 against Colombia. This match is expected to be an exciting duel not only for fans but also for global football analysts.

The match against Portugal, which fans have been eagerly awaiting, will take place on June 23rd. The decisive final match in Group "K" will be played on June 27 against an opponent who has successfully passed the playoff qualifiers, and it is this match that can determine the fate of the group.

For the Uzbekistan national team, this World Cup is a historic opportunity, a difficult test, and a great opportunity to speak up. And the fans expect a new spirit, a new character, and new pages from the team.