Uzbekistan’s national football team will play friendly matches against Gabon and Venezuela in the coming days as part of its preparation for this year’s FIFA World Cup.
First up for Uzbekistan is Gabon on Friday at Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent, followed by a matchup with Venezuela on Monday, March 30 at the same location. Trinidad and Tobago is also participating in the round of friendly matches, and will face Venezuela and Gabon at Pakhtakor Stadium, which is also in the Uzbek capital.
Uzbekistan will compete in the World Cup for the first time and faces some tough contenders in the four-member group K. Its first match is against Colombia in Mexico City on June 17. The Uzbek national team then heads to the United States to play Portugal in Houston on June 23.
The fourth member of group K is yet to be determined, pending the outcome of play-off matches. Uzbekistan will play that final group match in Atlanta on June 27.
Uzbekistan’s team is led by coach Fabio Cannavaro, a former defender who was captain of Italy’s winning team in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
