Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Husanov has been included in the list of the ten fastest footballers participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. During the tournament, he reached a maximum speed of 36.46 km/h, ranking sixth in the overall rating.
Among the defenders of the Uzbekistan national team, the international player demonstrated the third fastest characteristic in the tournament.
The leader of the overall rating is French forward Kylian Mbappé, who showed a speed of 37.61 km/h. Also in the top three are Anthony Elanga from Sweden with a speed of 37.16 km/h and Dutch defender Mikki van de Ven, who developed a speed of 36.77 km/h.
The top ten fastest players in the tournament also included Jordan Boss from Australia, Erling Haaland from Norway, Bradley Barcola from France, Jad Spence from England, Theo Hernandez from France, and Nelson Semedo from Portugal.
Abdukodir Husanov's performance was one of the most notable individual achievements of the Uzbekistan national team at the 2026 World Cup.
The Istanbul Bashakshexir team, headed by Eldor Shomurodov and Abbosbek Faizullaev, will play its next playoff match today.
The game will take place at the Fotih Terim stadium in Istanbul. The match is scheduled to start at 22:45 Tashkent time. The qualification matches for the Conference League are ongoing.
The Turkish team Istanbul Bashakshexir will host the Finnish team Inter Turku on their home ground. The return match is scheduled for July 30th.
The 13th round of the Uzbekistan Super League begins today and will last for three days. During this round, clubs aim to improve their positions in the standings and earn crucial points in the fight for the championship title.
Three matches are scheduled for the first day of the round. 'Bukhoro' will host 'Bunyodkor' at its home ground, while one of the leaders, 'Pakhtakor', will play against 'Khorezm'. A match will also take place in Jizzakh, where 'Sogdiona' will test its strength against the league leader 'Neftchi'.
Before the match between 'Pakhtakor' and 'Khorezm', statistics from their previous games were presented. The clubs have played 18 matches together, winning 13 of them 'Sherlar', while the opponents won two matches. Three games ended in a draw. 'Khorezm' scored 37 goals, conceding 11, resulting in a goal ratio of 19:5.
The game between 'Pakhtakor' and 'Khorezm' is scheduled for July 21st at 20:00 at the 'Pakhtakor' stadium.
On July 22nd, matches will take place between 'Mashhal' – 'Nasaf', 'Lokomotiv' – 'Andijan', and 'Qo'qon-1912' – OKMK. These games are also of great importance in the fight for high positions in the standings.
On the last day of the round, 'Surhon' will host 'Dynamo' at its home ground. Additionally, a match will be held in Namangan between 'Navbahor' and 'Qizilqum'. After the completion of the 13th round, further clarification of the situation in the Super League standings is expected, and the battle for the championship and prize places will become even more intense.
Orlando Pirates continues its pre-season preparation for the 2026/27 season, playing a friendly match against Saudi giant Al Ittihad on Tuesday in Spain. Furthermore, the return of players from the Bafana national team has significantly strengthened the club's teamwork.
Sipho Tshabalala returned to the Buccaneers squad, joining the team in Spain after participating in the FIFA World Cup with Bafana Bafana. Other players, such as Nkosinathi Sibisi, Tshepang Morremotse, and Oswin Appollis, also took a short break after representing the national team at the global tournament before joining their teammates at the Spanish training camp.
The Bafana Bafana national team reached the World Cup playoffs for the first time in the country's history, but their journey ended in a loss to Canada in the Round of 32. After returning from the international assignment, the players were given time to recover before resuming their club duties during Pirates' pre-season.
The return of the national team players increased the level of competition for spots in the squad, as athletes are now vying for starting positions. Head coach Abdelsalam Waddu had the opportunity to work with the entire squad, continuing to implement his tactical ideas before the start of the new season. Tshepang Morremotse quickly demonstrated his effectiveness by scoring in Pirates' previous friendly match against Cadiz, thereby building physical fitness.
Tuesday's match against Al Ittihad is one of the toughest tests of the tour for Pirates, as the Saudi Pro League team is expected to present a different challenge for Waddu's side. In Spain, the technical staff focused not only on results but also on improving physical condition, tactical understanding, and establishing combinations within the squad. Since the teams face competitions in the Betway Premiership, MTN8, domestic cups, and the CAF Champions League, strengthening cohesion during the pre-season remains a key objective.
For the returning Bafana players, the remaining matches offer a chance to regain rhythm after participating in the World Cup while competing for a spot in Pirates' highly competitive squad. Following the meeting with Al Ittihad, the Buccaneers will conclude their Spanish tour with friendly matches against Las Palmas and Saudi Pro League newcomers Neom FC. These matches will allow Waddu additional opportunities to assess the squad and refine preparations before Pirates enter the final phase of recruitment for the 2026/27 season.
