Uzbekistan national team and Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov has been ranked among the fastest players in the opening round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to BBC Sport, citing official FIFA physical tracking data.

Khusanov recorded a top speed of 36.5 km/h in the match against Colombia. The same figure was registered for Norway and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.

The fastest player of the first round was Australia defender Jordan Bos, who reached 36.7 km/h in the match against Turkey.

Notably, Khusanov and Haaland outpaced several renowned speedsters, including Kylian Mbappé, Son Heung-min, and Pedro Neto.

This is one of the best speed performances in Khusanov's career. In 2024, while playing for Lens in Ligue 1, he reached 36.48 km/h and was among the fastest defenders in the league. In the Champions League with Manchester City, his maximum speed was 35.8 km/h, according to CIES Football Observatory.

Khusanov's inclusion among the fastest players of the opening round further underscores his physical attributes, especially given Uzbekistan's debut match in the World Cup.

The Uzbekistan vs. Colombia match ended in a 3-1 victory for the South American side. Uzbekistan's only goal was scored by Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who became the first goal scorer for the national team in World Cup history.

Abdukodir Khusanov is a key figure in Uzbekistan's defense. In 2025, he transferred from French club Lens to Manchester City, becoming the first Uzbek player in the English Premier League.

Uzbekistan is competing in Group K alongside Colombia, Portugal, and DR Congo. Fabio Cannavaro's team will play its next match on June 23 at 22:00 against Portugal.

Source: www.gazeta.uz