HOT: Many opponents of U23 Vietnam will participate in the 2026 World Cup

5 Uzbekistan players who faced U23 Vietnam in the 2018 U23 Asian Cup final are on the preliminary World Cup roster.

The Uzbekistan Football Association has announced a preliminary list of 30 players in preparation for the 2026 World Cup under the leadership of head coach Fabio Cannavaro. Previously, the federation said that four additional reserve players will accompany the team, and the final list will be reduced to 26 players.

Notably, 5 players who took part in the 2018 U23 Asian Cup finalin Changzhou have been called up to the Uzbekistan national team for the 2026 World Cup, including goalkeeper Botirali Ergashev, defender Rustamjon Ashurmatov, and midfielders Azizjon Ganiev, Odiljon Khamrobekov, and Dostonbek Khamdamov.

Rustamjon Ashurmatov was the player who scored the opening goal against U23 Vietnam in that historic final under the snow in Changzhou. These five players have all contributed to Uzbekistan's first-ever qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Since the 2018 U23 Asian Cup final, Uzbekistan football has continuously developed to become a leading force in Asia as it is now.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese football also left many regrets as the golden generation of U23 Vietnam from the 2018 Changzhou campaign saw many players unable to reach the highest level. The Vietnam national team's best achievement was reaching the third round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, but they have yet to secure a World Cup berth like Uzbekistan.

According to an announcement from the federation, the Uzbekistan team will depart for the United States on May 26, flying from Tashkent to New York for a training camp. The final World Cup squad will consist of 26 players, meaning the coaching staff will have to cut four players from the current list before the tournament begins.

The first vice-president of the Uzbekistan Football Federation, Ravshan Irmatov, previously explained that the additional players were included as backups in case of injuries or unexpected situations during the preparation process.