Once a Soviet republic and Silk Road crossroads, Uzbekistan has become one of world football’s most fascinating late bloomers. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass tells the story of the White Wolves: a team long haunted by near-misses and bizarre heartbreaks, like a World Cup qualifier that had to be annulled and replayed, a spot in Brazil 2014 lost by a single goal and a marathon penalty shootout. We track how deliberate investment in academies, facilities, and youth projects has transformed Uzbekistan into the “Asian Italy,” a defensively ruthless, hard-to-break side that finally punched its ticket to 2026 with a calm, controlled qualifying campaign. Spotlighting national icon, turned coach, Timur Kapadze and the surprise arrival of World Cup winning Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro. Along with that rising stars like Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov, captain Eldor Shomurodov, and live-wire Abbosbek Fayzullaev. Layered over it all is a deeper history: from Soviet-era greats to the Pakhtakor air disaster that wiped out a generation. Is Uzbekistan one of the tournament’s most compelling underdog stories?