Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan national team head coach Temur Kapadze commented on reports regarding the potential appointment of Portuguese specialist Paulo Bento as the national team’s head coach.

He emphasized that for him and the entire squad, the main priority remains supporting the national team, regardless of who occupies the head coach position.

“Currently, we are training at the new base in Dustlik. We saw that Bento arrived in Tashkent, but we are not aware of any agreements reached. If he takes over the team — I wish him success. We always support our national team, and this does not depend on the coach’s name. Each of us must be a fan of our team,” Kapadze said.

He thanked the fans for their support and added that the management is focused on working with an experienced specialist who has World Cup experience, which could help develop the national team.

Kapadze also reminded that Uzbekistan’s participation in the 2026 World Cup will be the first in the country’s history, making it especially important to support the players and create a positive atmosphere for them. “Thank God, even if only for a short time, I led the national team. The 34-year dream of our people has come true, and we are all happy about it,” he concluded.