Uganda’s national football team, the Cranes, is gearing up for two crucial fixtures in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign as they seek to keep their hopes of making a maiden appearance at the global tournament alive.
Head coach Paul Put is set to unveil his squad for the decisive encounters against Mozambique and Guinea during an official press conference on Monday at the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) headquarters in Mengo.
His selections will be closely scrutinized, given Uganda’s current position in the qualification standings and the importance of the upcoming matches.
The Cranes will begin their latest round of qualifiers with an away fixture against Mozambique’s Mambas on March 20 at Cairo International Stadium in Egypt. The decision to play in Egypt comes due to Mozambique’s temporary home venue constraints.
Following this, the team will return to host Guinea on March 25 in Kampala, where they will be hoping to secure maximum points in front of home support.
Placed in Group G, Uganda currently sits in fifth place with six points from four matches, tied with Botswana and Guinea.
Algeria and Mozambique share the lead with nine points each, while Somalia lags behind without a point.
With only the group winners securing direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Cranes must put in an exceptional performance in their remaining matches to stay in contention.
With just six matches remaining in the qualification process, Uganda will need to maximize points to boost their chances of advancing.
If they fail to top the group, they will have to rely on finishing as one of the best four second-placed teams across all groups to qualify for the CAF mini-tournament.
The winner of that tournament will then proceed to the FIFA Intercontinental Play-Offs, where they will battle for one of the remaining World Cup spots.
Coach Put’s squad announcement will be a defining moment as he aims to assemble a competitive team capable of delivering results in these crucial matches.
Key questions remain over which players will make the cut, with the inclusion of experienced stars and in-form talents expected to generate intense discussion among football enthusiasts.
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