Overview

• Srečko Katanec resigned as Uzbekistan's head coach on Wednesday, citing health problems that prevent him from fulfilling his duties.
• Katanec, 61, led Uzbekistan to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Asian Cup and placed them second in their World Cup qualifying group, three points behind Iran.
• Timur Kapadze, a former national team player and coach of Uzbekistan's under-23 team, has been named as Katanec's replacement.
• Kapadze's familiarity with the team and players was cited as a key reason for his appointment ahead of critical qualifiers in March against Kyrgyzstan and Iran.
• Uzbekistan is seeking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time, with the top two teams in their group earning automatic berths for the 2026 tournament.