Uzbekistan drawn against Portugal and Colombia in 2026 World Cup group stage

Uzbekistan has learned its opponents for the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the official draw held in Washington, D.C. The national team was placed in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and one more team that will qualify through the intercontinental play-offs — either the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jamaica, or New Caledonia.

Photo: UFA

The tournament will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

According to the draw results announced on 5 December, Uzbekistan will open its campaign on 17 June against Colombia, followed by a match against Portugal on 23 June. The final group-stage fixture is scheduled for 27 June against the winner of the play-off path (DR Congo/Jamaica/New Caledonia). FIFA will publish the exact venues and kickoff times, today, 6 December.

Uzbekistan’s head coach Fabio Cannavaro and legendary former player Mirjalol Qosimov attended the ceremony in Washington.

The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition to feature an expanded 48-team format. In addition to the first- and second-placed teams, eight of the best third-placed sides will qualify for the knockout stage. Unlike previous tournaments, the playoffs will begin from the round of 32 instead of the round of 16.

The competition will run for 39 days, from 11 June to 19 July.

The list of participating teams is not yet complete: 42 nations have already secured their spots, while the remaining six will be determined in the intercontinental play-offs scheduled for March 2026.

Prepared by: Дониёр Тухсинов

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