Possible changes to Super League calendar in light of World Cup participation

For the first time in history, the Uzbekistan national football team will participate in the FIFA World Cup in 2026. In this connection, adjustments may be made to the schedule of the Uzbekistan Super League. This was reported by the press service of the Professional Football League (UzPFL).

According to the UzPFL, the organization was required to submit the official registration periods for players to FIFA by July 31. Based on this, the winter transfer window for the 2026 season is set to open on December 5, 2025, and run until February 20, 2026. The summer transfer window will be held from June 22 to July 24, 2026.

FIFA has designated June 1–9, 2026, as international match days. The World Cup will begin on June 11 and conclude on July 19, with the group stage wrapping up by June 27. As a result, it may not be feasible to hold domestic matches during this time. Under league regulations, clubs with three or more players on the national team may request to postpone scheduled matches. The UzPFL has not yet identified which clubs this may apply to. Additionally, national team coaches are expected to conduct extended training camps during June, making it impractical to hold league matches while the tournament is underway.

In response to the scheduling challenge, the UzPFL is considering three options:

1. Amend clause 10.9 of the “Super League and Pro League Regulations” to allow at least Uzbekistan Cup matches to continue during the June FIFA window, while slightly reducing the length of the summer break. This model is similar to the English Premier League, which allows matches to continue during the Africa Cup of Nations.
2. Introduce an extended break in June and July, resume the league in August, and implement changes to the Uzbekistan Cup format.
3. Resume the season in mid-July with a shorter summer break and maintain the original competition formats.

“These issues will be resolved through mutual discussions at a meeting involving the League and clubs. The League is also gathering input from experts such as Ruzikul Berdiev, Mirjalol Kasimov, Timur Kapadze, and Vadim Abramov. All other clubs are also expected to participate and present their proposals,” the statement said.

A working calendar has already been drafted for the 2026 season. Under this plan, the Super League will begin in late February, with 15 rounds scheduled to be completed by the end of May. The league will also take into account the performances of clubs like Nasaf and Andijan in international competitions during this period. It is worth noting that the summer transfer window will open after this stage of the season.

The calendar may also require changes to the Uzbekistan Cup format. The group stage would be eliminated, and Super League and Pro League clubs would enter directly from the round of 32. Each round would be played as a single-match knockout, with losing teams eliminated. The compressed international calendar is expected to present further scheduling difficulties in the latter half of the season.

In particular, the usual nine-day FIFA windows will be extended in September and October 2026, totaling 16 days. As a result, Super League clubs may need to pause for an additional 18 to 20 days. Taking this into account, the UzPFL plans to end the 2026 season by November 30. Only the four clubs that reach the semifinals of the Uzbekistan Cup would play into December.

“The League has placed increased emphasis on organizing the Cup finals in recent years. Identifying the final four teams early and planning accordingly is crucial. However, in 2026, this could prove more complicated—especially since other clubs will have concluded their seasons earlier,” the report stated. “Therefore, the three remaining matches—the two semifinals and the final—could be played in one city as a final stage event. All four semifinalist clubs would gather in that location, participate in promotional events, and the League would handle all logistical and organizational matters.”

The UzPFL noted that the matter is open for public discussion, and a general meeting involving all clubs will be held at the end of August to reach a consensus. The League emphasized the importance of giving clubs enough time to submit their proposals. The finalized calendar will be reviewed by the Uzbekistan Football Association, which will also provide its input. This process is expected to help shape the national team’s plans for 2026 and reduce the risk of sudden scheduling changes.

For reference, 48 national teams will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Uzbekistan will be making its historic debut at the competition.