FIFA Approves Uzbekistan's Number 10 Change Due to Masharipov's Disc Herniation

FIFA officially confirmed on Tuesday, June 16, a squad change for Uzbekistan's national team following a medical evaluation. Jaloliddin Masharipov, the 32-year-old striker and number 10, withdrew from the squad due to a recurring disc herniation injury that had previously sidelined him from recent warm-up matches against Canada and Holland, which ended in 0-2 and 1-2 losses respectively.

Ruslanbek Jiyanov, a forward from Namangan FC in Uzbekistan, was promoted to replace Masharipov and assume the number 10 shirt. Jiyanov had been included in coach Fábio Cannavaro's preliminary squad but was cut from the final roster along with three other players: midfielders Umarali Rakhmonaliev and Jasurbek Jaloliddinov, and striker Sherzod Temirov. With this reinstatement, Jiyanov will make his World Cup debut.

Masharipov, who plays for Iran's Esteghlal FC, brought 11 goals and 11 assists across 73 international appearances. He gained prominence in recent years while playing for Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr, where he famously ceded his number 7 shirt to Cristiano Ronaldo upon the Portuguese star's arrival at the club. Ronaldo and Masharipov subsequently developed a close friendship. Both players are now positioned to face each other at the World Cup, with Uzbekistan and Portugal grouped together in Group K alongside Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Uzbekistan opens its campaign on Wednesday, June 17, against Colombia at 23:00 Brasília time.