Italian manager Fabio Cannavaro, who has been heading the national team of Uzbekistan since the autumn of 2025, is considering the possibility of leaving his position as head coach prematurely. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, published on the social network X and verified by Sport RBC.UA, the key trigger for reconsidering the Italian's plans was a change in the calendar of the upcoming Asian Cup. Under Cannavaro's leadership, the Uzbek team reached the 2026 World Cup for the first time in its history, making the current cycle one of the most significant in domestic football history.
Tournament Rescheduling: Almost a Year of Waiting
The 2027 Asian Cup, originally scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5, 2027, has been postponed to the period from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028. The organizers explain the date change by a combination of factors: the tense situation in the region, logistical difficulties, and disruptions in transport communication. Thus, the continental championship will take place almost a year later than planned. At the same time, the new dates of the tournament still need to receive official approval from FIFA, which adds an element of uncertainty to team preparations.
Official Position of the Federation
Reports about Cannavaro's possible departure received a swift reaction from the Uzbekistan Football Association. The federation stated that this information does not correspond to reality and urged the media and fans to rely exclusively on official announcements. Head of the National Teams Department Usmon Toshev additionally confirmed that the Italian specialist has a valid contract and will continue to lead the team, including in the upcoming friendly match against the Russian national team.
Calendar Conflict and Preparation Strategy
Rescheduling the Asian Cup to late 2027 and early 2028 creates a difficult task for the coaching staff in building preparations. Shifting the tournament by almost a year changes the entire logic of training cycles, the scheduling of control matches, and, likely, plans for squad renewal. For a coach who has just led the team through a historic cycle with qualification for the World Cup, such a restructuring may mean the need to reconsider long-term goals and, consequently, reflection on future work. According to Romano, this very factor prompted Cannavaro to think about his future in the national team.
Context: What is Known About Cannavaro's Work
Fabio Cannavaro, a two-time Ballon d'Or winner and Italian football legend, took charge of the Uzbekistan national team in the autumn of 2025. In a relatively short period, he led the team to the 2026 World Cup, which became a breakthrough achievement for Uzbek football. Now, against the backdrop of the Asian championship postponement, the Italian's future in the team remains in question: on the one hand, the federation confirms the strength of the contract, on the other hand, the coach himself, according to reports, is assessing the feasibility of continuing work under changed conditions. The final decision is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
