Fabio Cannavaro may quit as Uzbekistan coach after Asian Cup reshuffle
Fabio Cannavaro is reportedly considering stepping down as head coach of the Uzbekistan national team, according to Fabrizio Romano, following the rescheduling of the Asian Cup.
Details: Fabio Cannavaro is the head coach of the Uzbekistan national team. The decision to reschedule the Asian Cup has led to speculation that Cannavaro may leave his position.
Fabio Cannavaro is currently at the center of a potential coaching change as Uzbekistan considers a friendly match against Russia or Saudi Arabia in November 2026. Negotiations with the Russian Football Union are reportedly in their final stages, with the match against Saudi Arabia initially planned in Riyadh but later proposed to be moved to Tashkent for security reasons. Cannavaro will be directly involved in the final decision regarding the friendly match.
Cannavaro has had a mixed start to his tenure, with Uzbekistan defeating Iran 3:1 and Syria 4:1 in September and October 2026, but also suffering a 0:2 loss to South Korea in a recent friendly. Despite these results, Cannavaro has taken responsibility for the team's performance at the World Cup, where Uzbekistan finished the group stage with three losses. He has emphasized that the national team doors are open to all players, with selections based on readiness and performance.
Cannavaro took over the Uzbekistan national team in October 2025, succeeding Timur Kapadze, who led the team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Cannavaro has acknowledged the pressure of leading the team on its first-ever World Cup appearance and has stated that the team gained valuable experience despite the disappointing results.
It's worth noting that Cannavaro stated the team gained valuable experience from their World Cup debut, despite finishing the group stage with three losses.
Reminder: Urgent decision in world football! 2027 Asian Cup officially postponed by nearly a year.
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
