Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The head coach of the Uzbekistan national football team, Srečko Katanec, will miss the third qualifying round matches for the 2026 World Cup against the national teams of Iran and the UAE, according to the Uzbekistan Football Association.

As reported by the Association, the coach will also be unable to participate in the training camp that starts on 7 October on the advice of doctors due to a deterioration in his health.

The team’s preparations for the upcoming matches will be handled by assistant coaches Aleš Čeh and Vlado Radmanović.

It is worth noting that Srečko Katanec has previously missed some matches due to health issues. Specifically, he was absent for the game against Hong Kong on 26 March in Tashkent and left the team’s camp during the CAFA tournament in June 2023, traveling to Slovenia.

Uzbekistan will face Iran on 10 October and the UAE on 15 October. Both matches are set to kick off at 19:00 in Tashkent.

Currently, Uzbekistan is in first place in Group A with 6 points, thanks to victories over North Korea (1:0) and Kyrgyzstan (3:2).

In the third qualifying round, 18 teams are divided into three groups of six. The two best teams from each group will qualify directly for the final stage of the 2026 World Cup. The teams finishing in third and fourth places will compete in the fourth round for two more direct spots, as well as a place in the intercontinental playoff.

The third qualifying round will be played in two legs (10 rounds), starting on 5 September 2024, and concluding on 10 June 2025.