At this stage, all teams are considered strong - Srechko Katanets

Srechko Katanets, the head coach of the Uzbekistan national football team, which will face North Korea in the first round of the third stage of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, shared his insights prior to the upcoming match.

"Everything is in place, and our players are prepared for the game. In yesterday's training session, the team was diligent and focused on their preparation. Since we are playing at home, our sole objective is to secure a victory. Our opponents have had the opportunity to play friendly matches and participate in additional training sessions before facing us. Although we have only recently come together as a team, this is not unfamiliar territory for us. We have been working together for three years and possess considerable experience. Not all players arrived at the training camp in the same condition; some have played more than others, and there are varying situations. My role is to analyze all these factors and prepare accordingly. We must maintain our current momentum. At this stage, all teams are strong, particularly our upcoming opponent," stated Katanets.

The coach also addressed the capabilities of the opponent and the extent of their analysis.

"I cannot predict what will happen tomorrow, as there is a long journey ahead of us. Our primary focus is on tomorrow's game. We will all see the outcome in due course. It is challenging to analyze this national team. They have played against various teams, including Syria and Japan. The team is well-organized and has its own style of play. However, we are concentrating on our own game and must demonstrate our capabilities on the field during tomorrow’s match," the coach added.

For your information, the Uzbekistan vs. DPRK match is scheduled for September 5. The game will take place at the "Bunyodkor" Stadium in Tashkent.