Uzbekistan coach Srečko Katanec has resigned citing health reasons with the team close to qualifying for the men’s World Cup for the first time.

Srecko Katanec has resigned as Uzbekistan head coach due to undisclosed health issues less than two months before the country's 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Kyrgyzstan and Iran, the Uzbekistan Football Association said on Wednesday.

Srecko Katanec has stepped down as Uzbekistan head coach due to ill health, the Uzbekistan Football Association said on Wednesday, noting that the Slovenian had departed by mutual consent.

Despite being close to qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time, Uzbekistan head coach Srečko Katanec resigned on Wednesday citing undisclosed health reasons.  The Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA) said  Katanec “expressed his regret that he could no longer fulfil his duties professionally and completely in his current condition.

Timur Kapadze has been named Uzbekistan national team coach following the departure of Srecko Katanec due to ill health, the country's football federation has confirmed. Kapadze, who led the nation's under-23 team to the Olympic Games last year,

With Uzbekistan close to qualifying for the men’s World Cup for the first time, national-team coach Srečko Katanec resigned Wednesday citing health reasons.