Uzbekistan will not play a friendly match against Russia – source

The Uzbekistan Football Association’s First Vice President Ravshan Ermatov has said that the Uzbekistan national team does not plan to play a friendly match against Russia ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ermatov made the statement in an interview with RIA Novosti.

As is known, the Uzbekistan national team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history. At the tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Fabio Cannavaro’s side will face Portugal and Colombia. The third opponent in the group will be determined based on the results of the first round of the intercontinental playoff, which will feature New Caledonia, Jamaica, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Ahead of the World Cup, the Uzbekistan national team will play two friendly matches in March this year as part of the FIFA Series. No specific plans have yet been announced for the international window in April.

In May, the national team is set to play a number of friendly matches against leading clubs from the Uzbekistan Super League. This will be followed in June by a planned friendly match against the Canada national team as part of preparations for the World Cup.

For reference, Uzbekistan and Russia have faced each other once before. A friendly match held in Tashkent in November 2022 ended in a goalless draw.