In a recent World Cup draw, confusion ensued when Uzbekistan was allocated to Group K, joining Portugal, Colombia, and a team yet to be determined from the Intercontinental Playoff. This allocation stemmed from the requirement to avoid having multiple teams from the same confederation in one group, a rule necessitated by the increasing complexities denoted by the expanded tournament format.

Official World Cup qualifying schedules were delayed, and playoff matches are set to occur in March 2026, which further complicates the group placement. The decision to place Uzbekistan where they are was essential to prevent dual confederation representations in their group, particularly with the playoff outcomes remaining unknown.

The latest adjustments come as UEFA is fielding 16 teams from Europe, inciting stricter controls on grouping to ensure compliance with tournament rules and to provide a smoother draw process for future events. As it stands, clarity about the entire makeup of the World Cup lineup will develop gradually, leading into early March.