Italian Football Icon Touches Down in Uzbekistan with Coaching Team

The Uzbekistan Football Association has announced that Italian football legend Fabio Cannavaro arrived in Tashkent with his coaching staff.

Cannavaro’s visit comes amid growing anticipation of his appointment as the new head coach of the Uzbekistan national team. Earlier this month, reports emerged that the 51-year-old World Cup winner had given his preliminary consent to lead the team, The Caspian Post informs via Uzbek media.

Media sources indicate that Cannavaro’s annual contract, which includes salaries for his assistants, could total around 4 million euros.

The 2006 World Cup champion and Ballon d’Or winner brings extensive coaching experience, having managed Chinese clubs Guangzhou Evergrande and Tianjin Quanjian, as well as the Chinese national team. His potential hiring is viewed as a significant step in preparing Uzbekistan for its debut appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The upcoming World Cup, set to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, will be jointly hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, and for the first time will feature 48 teams.