Jaloliddin Masharipov, the 32-year-old captain of Uzbekistan’s national football team, will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a recurrence of a spinal disc herniation. The Uzbekistan Football Association confirmed the news following MRI scans conducted on June 10-11, 2026.
This is a devastating blow for a squad making its first-ever appearance at the global tournament under coach Fabio Cannavaro, the Italian World Cup-winning legend.
A season defined by injuries
Masharipov’s World Cup absence caps a brutal 2025-2026 season. The midfielder had already missed between 131 and 134 days due to a cruciate ligament injury earlier in the campaign.
Initial treatment for the spinal condition included medication and physiotherapy. But the herniation relapsed, and medical staff determined he could not recover in time for the tournament.
