The report says Uzbekistan’s federation has directed significant resources towards academies, facilities and a new national football centre opened last year. Cannavaro, appointed in October, believes that environment can produce more players capable of moving into European football.
That pathway matters. Uzbekistan have progressed through qualifying and now arrive at the finals with a stronger development structure than in previous cycles. The next step is turning infrastructure into a deeper talent pool, improved coaching standards and a national team able to compete beyond one tournament.
The timing also places responsibility on the current generation. A World Cup debut against Colombia offers an immediate measure of how far the project has advanced.
Cannavaro’s comparison with China carries weight because he has reportedly experienced the country’s football system from close range. China reached the 2002 World Cup, but the report notes that they have since missed the next six editions.
The contrast is not simply about spending. China’s repeated failure to return to the finals underlines the difficulty of building a sustainable pathway when long-term development is overtaken by short-term targets. Investment in facilities must be matched by youth coaching, competitive opportunities and a clear route into senior football.
Uzbekistan’s progress therefore offers a model, but not a guarantee. Their ranking and qualifying success have earned attention; the tournament will reveal whether that progress can withstand elite opposition.
The Colombia opener is the first major checkpoint. A competitive performance would strengthen Cannavaro’s case that Uzbekistan’s planning is producing genuine momentum, while the wider storyline will be whether the country can develop enough players to sustain its rise after the World Cup.