World Cup 2026: Fabio Cannavaro quells controversy surrounding Uzbekistan

World Cup 2026 Today at 03:07

Aliou Toundé

News Editor

Fabio Cannavaro responded firmly to criticism following the release of images showing Uzbekistan’s players undergoing a security check in the United States.

While some online commentators denounced what they saw as humiliating treatment of the Asian nation—making their historic first World Cup appearance—the Italian coach insisted there was nothing out of the ordinary:

I saw photos on newspaper covers showing the searches we underwent as members of the Uzbek squad. I also saw misleading headlines, so I’d like to set the record straight.

According to Cannavaro, the checks before the friendly against the Netherlands were simply standard protocols required of all teams at the tournament.

These are standard checks. National teams don’t use the same routes as regular passengers in airports. The inspections are carried out directly on the tarmac, but they’re identical to what all travelers experience.

For Cannavaro, there’s no controversy: Uzbekistan is now fully focused on its World Cup debut and upcoming clashes against Colombia, Portugal, and DR Congo.

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