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Paul McNamara

Hong Kong tumbled out of the 2026 Fifa World Cup following a one-sided 3-0 defeat by Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Tuesday night.
This was a familiar tale for Jorn Andersen’s team, who did not lack effort, but wanted for technical quality and athleticism against superior opponents.
Hong Kong have only one point from four group matches. They cannot catch either the Uzbeks or Iran, who beat Turkmenistan 1-0, at the top of their group, and are eliminated 807 days before the World Cup finals begin in Mexico, on June 11, 2026
Eldor Shomurodov, the scourge of Andersen’s side when Uzbekistan won at Mong Kok Stadium last Thursday, opened the scoring after 20 minutes.
The visitors remained within touching distance of Uzbekistan, without ever threatening to draw level, until the 63rd minute, when substitute Khozimat Erkinov struck into the corner from 22 yards.

Erkinov had replaced outstanding 20-year-old forward Abbosbek Fayzullaev, player of the tournament when Uzbekistan won the Under-20 Asian Cup 12 months ago, who left the field in some discomfort 12 minutes after the break.
The home team lost Shomurodov to an ankle injury at half-time, too, but his replacement, Oston Urunov, scored after 70 minutes to put clear daylight between the teams.
A key tenet of the Hong Kong Football Association’s Vision 2025 plan for improving football in the city, is the mission to qualify for the 2034 World Cup.
The target looked like pie in the sky when it was set in 2020, and the size of that task has been underlined in a campaign for 2026 that remained alive for all of five months.
Hong Kong not in World Cup qualifiers to make up the numbers, says Andersen
This outcome is not a surprise, of course. Hong Kong, for all they have been transformed under head coach Andersen, are positioned 154 in the global Fifa standings, 88 places beneath Uzbekistan, and 134 behind the excellent Iranians.
Hong Kong gave Iran a scare at the Asian Cup finals only two months ago. But that night in Al Rayyan felt like a distant memory, as Hong Kong struggled to lay a glove on Uzbekistan.
Andersen has talked until he is blue in the face about a Hong Kong Premier League that is light years away from the standard of international football. And his fears over players’ fitness levels diminishing back at their clubs following the Asian tournament were well founded.

Hong Kong quickly looked leggy, and incapable of retaining possession. Repeatedly, balls from defence were hurriedly struck into no man’s land, or obligingly returned to the opposition.
Shomurodov’s strike came after Tan Chun-lok uncharacteristically allowed himself to be mugged in midfield. Li Ngai-hoi rushed from defence to try to retrieve the situation, but recklessly sold himself, allowing Uzbekistan to sweep down the right.
Fayzullaev delivered along the floor, and Shomurodov jabbed out a leg to guide his finish inside the near post.
Oliver Gerbig’s fabulous last-man tackle prevented Shomorudov scoring again, after Jaloliddin Masharipov’s low, straight pass from midfield released the striker, before Fayzullaev skipped inside Wu Chun-ming to send a swerving, dipping shot fractionally too high to disturb Yapp Hung-fai.
The usually imperturbable Yapp was furious with his defenders for allowing Fayzullaev to take aim late in the opening half, but the goalkeeper made a comfortable save.
Coach plots World Cup upset as Hong Kong FA stays silent over contract talks
Yapp, 34, was excellent again, after a fabulous performance in the home match five days ago. He reacted well to divert behind a misdirected cross early in the second half, and soon saved with his legs, after Urunov dodged Wu and Gerbig to shoot.
There was another fine stop after Urunov streaked clear of Li, but, by then, the game was up for Hong Kong.
Andersen sent on forward Matt Orr for midfielder Philip Chan Siu-Kwan to try to change the tide of the game, but, within 60 seconds, Erkinov drifted in from the right to pick his spot in the far corner.
After 70 minutes, Urunov skipped onto Odildzhon Khamrobekov’s through ball to slot beyond Yapp, who was winning his 92nd cap, and on the evidence of the past week is a shoo-in to reach his century.
Azizbek Turgunboev arrowed a strike against the post late on, and Hong Kong substitute Tsui Wang-kit was, perhaps, fortunate to receive only a yellow card for a challenge that left a raging Farrukh Safiev with a gash running the length of his shin.


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The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong tumble out of World Cup following Uzbekistan defeat, Andersen’s side well beaten by clinical hosts

Matt Orr came on as a substitute for Hong Kong, but his team were 2-0 behind before he could have any impact. Photo: Dickson Lee

The normally outstanding Tan Chun-lok surrendered possession before Uzbekistan’s first goal. Photo: HKFA

Yapp Hung-fai made a string of excellent saves to back up a fine performance five days earlier. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong football bosses silent over Andersen contract talks, as head coach plots World Cup qualifiers upset

Jorn Andersen led Hong Kong to the AFC Asian Cup finals, but the FA have not made any moves to retain the head coach beyond his current contract. Photo: Reuters

Norwegian Andersen is focusing only on his team’s two World Cup qualifiers against Uzbekistan. Photo: HKFA

Influential forward Everton Camargo missed training on Monday to protect an Achilles problem. Photo: AP

World Cup qualifiers: Hong Kong not in Uzbekistan to make up numbers, says Andersen, as rival Katanec falls ill

Jorn Andersen will not encounter opposite number Srecko Katanec when Hong Kong meet Uzbekistan on Tuesday. Photo: Elson Li

Andersen’s rivalry with Katanec goes back to the pair’s first meeting as players more than 35 years ago. Photo: Elson Li

Slovenian Katanec led Uzbekistan to the quarter-finals of this year’s Asian Cup finals. Photo: EPA

Uzbekistan boss slams ‘dangerous’ Mong Kok Stadium, questions integrity of Hong Kong World Cup group

Eldor Shomurodov (right) scores Uzbekistan’s first goal against Hong Kong in their 2-0 win on Thursday at Mong Kok Stadium. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong’s Everton Camargo (left) in a tussle with Shukurov Otabek of Uzbekistan. Photo: Elson Li

Uzbek coach Srecko Katanec was unhappy with the venue, which seats just 6,664 fans. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong striker Udebuluzor set for move after revealing ‘toxic relationship’ with club, hopes for leading World Cup role

Michael Udebuluzor says he was below par at the Asian Cup finals, but is revitalised after returning to Ingolstadt’s second team, ahead of a summer move. Photo: Xinhua

 Udebuluzor looked sharp when he came on for Matt Orr against Uzbekistan. Photo: Elson Li

Udebuluzor left Hong Kong for Germany at 14 and is open to moving elsewhere in Europe. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Football

Hong Kong lose 3-0 in Uzbekistan, following 2-0 home reverse against same opponents last week
Jorn Andersen’s side technically inferior to classy hosts, who confirm World Cup qualifying progress


Hong Kong out of Fifa World Cup 2026 following defeat in Uzbekistan, visitors outclassed in Tashkent


Fifa World Cup 2026

Uzbekistan

Hong Kong tumble out of World Cup following Uzbekistan defeat, Andersen’s side well beaten by clinical hosts

Hong Kong lose 3-0 in Uzbekistan, following 2-0 home reverse against same opponents last week Jorn Andersen’s side technically inferior to classy hosts, who confirm World Cup qualifying progress

Hong Kong lose 3-0 in Uzbekistan, following 2-0 home reverse against same opponents last week

Jorn Andersen’s side technically inferior to classy hosts, who confirm World Cup qualifying progress