In his statement, Katanec expressed regret that his current condition would prevent him from fulfilling his duties fully and professionally, and thanked the association for its ongoing support and collaboration, wishing the national team the best of luck in the World Cup qualifiers.

"In turn, the Uzbekistan Football Association extends its sincere gratitude to Srečko Katanec for his dedication and efforts in managing the national team. We wish him a speedy recovery and success in his future coaching endeavors. The contract between the Uzbekistan Football Association and Srečko Katanec has been amicably terminated, with both parties maintaining a positive and friendly relationship," the statement added.

The Uzbekistan Football Association is currently working on identifying a suitable candidate to appoint as the new head coach of the national team.

Katanec's contract, signed in August 2021, saw him guide the national team through 20 official matches, in which Uzbekistan secured 13 wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses.

In the third stage of the 2028 World Cup qualifiers in Group A, after 6 matches, Iran leads with 16 points, followed by Uzbekistan in second place with 13 points. The UAE sits in third with 10 points. Qatar (7), Kyrgyzstan (3), and North Korea (2) occupy the remaining positions. Before the qualification rounds conclude, the Uzbekistan national team will play the following 4 matches:

•  March 20: Home against Kyrgyzstan
•  March 25: Away against Iran
•  June 5: Away against the UAE
•  June 10: Home against Qatar