# Bekhruz Karimov
**Bekhruz Karimov** (Беҳруз Каримов; full name Behruzjon Alisher Karimov, born 2007) is an Uzbek professional footballer who plays as a right-back for [FC Lugano](https://www.edgepedia.org/fc-lugano) in the [Swiss Super League](https://www.edgepedia.org/swiss-super-league) and for the [Uzbekistan](https://www.edgepedia.org/uzbekistan) national team.[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/11924/bekhruz-karimov) • [2](https://daryo.uz/uz/persona/behruz-karimov/) He was a member of Uzbekistan's squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the country's first, and joined Lugano from PFC Surkhon shortly afterward.[3](https://fclugano.com/news/karimov-e-bianconero)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Behruzjon Alisher Karimov[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/11924/bekhruz-karimov) |
| Born | 2007, Kosonsoy, Uzbekistan[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/11924/bekhruz-karimov) • [2](https://daryo.uz/uz/persona/behruz-karimov/) |
| Position | Right-back (also listed at right midfield and left back)[4](https://www.transfermarkt.us/bekhruz-karimov/profil/spieler/1106187) |
| Current club | FC Lugano, signed 10 August 2026 on a five-year contract to 30 June 2031[3](https://fclugano.com/news/karimov-e-bianconero) • [5](https://www.soccerway.com/player/karimov-bekhruz/tYdoTuF8/) |
| Transfer fee | €450,000 from Surkhon Termez to Lugano (10 August 2026)[5](https://www.soccerway.com/player/karimov-bekhruz/tYdoTuF8/) |
| 2026 World Cup | Two appearances for Uzbekistan, against Colombia and Portugal[3](https://fclugano.com/news/karimov-e-bianconero) |
| 2026/27 Super League | 7 appearances, 454 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist for Lugano[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/11924/bekhruz-karimov) |
## Early career in Uzbekistan
Karimov began his career at the Odil Junior club before joining Olympic Tashkent, and moved to PFC Surkhon in Termez on 20 February 2025 as a free agent, debuting in the Uzbekistan Super League that year.[2](https://daryo.uz/uz/persona/behruz-karimov/) • [5](https://www.soccerway.com/player/karimov-bekhruz/tYdoTuF8/) In the 2025 season he made 15 league appearances for Surkhon.[5](https://www.soccerway.com/player/karimov-bekhruz/tYdoTuF8/)
In May 2026 he suffered a foot injury and underwent surgery, but passed a medical examination in Tashkent on 10 August and signed with FC Lugano of the Swiss Super League, still short of his nineteenth birthday.[2](https://daryo.uz/uz/persona/behruz-karimov/) Lugano announced the permanent signing on a five-year contract running to 30 June 2031, and he took the number 2 shirt.[3](https://fclugano.com/news/karimov-e-bianconero) • [6](https://fclugano.com/en/news/karimov-ho-scelto-lugano-per-il-suo-progetto) Chief Sports Officer Sebastian Pelzer described the move as the defender's first step in European football and said several clubs had followed his profile.[3](https://fclugano.com/news/karimov-e-bianconero)
## At Lugano
Karimov established himself quickly in Lugano's first team under coach Mattia Croci-Torti. In the 2026/27 [Super League](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-league) season he made seven appearances totaling 454 minutes, starting six of the club's first ten fixtures and coming on as a substitute once.[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/11924/bekhruz-karimov) He scored his first goal for the club against [St. Gallen](https://www.edgepedia.org/st-gallen) on 16 September 2026 in a 4-1 victory, and added one assist; he was booked three times in the league.[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/11924/bekhruz-karimov) He also made one appearance in the UEFA Conference League during the 2026/27 campaign.[5](https://www.soccerway.com/player/karimov-bekhruz/tYdoTuF8/)
## International career
Karimov represented Uzbekistan at youth level with the U-17 and U-23 teams, taking part in the [2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/2023-afc-u-17-asian-cup) and the 2026 [AFC U-23 Asian Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/afc-u-23-asian-cup).[2](https://daryo.uz/uz/persona/behruz-karimov/) He was first called up to the senior national team in January 2026 and was included in the squad for the [FIFA Series](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-series) matches in March.[2](https://daryo.uz/uz/persona/behruz-karimov/)
He was then named to Uzbekistan's preliminary squad for the 2026 [FIFA World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-world-cup), hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, where the team was coached by [Fabio Cannavaro](https://www.edgepedia.org/fabio-cannavaro).[2](https://daryo.uz/uz/persona/behruz-karimov/) • [3](https://fclugano.com/news/karimov-e-bianconero) In the group-stage match against Colombia on 17 June 2026 at Mexico City Stadium, a 1-3 defeat, he started at right-back wearing number 24 and played the full 105 minutes including extra time.[7](https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce281/r12513/pdf/FullTimeMatchReport-English.pdf) He also appeared in the group match against Portugal.[3](https://fclugano.com/news/karimov-e-bianconero)
## References
1. [Bekhruz Karimov, Player Information and 2026/27 Stats, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/11924/bekhruz-karimov)
2. [Беҳруз Каримов — Биография ва янгиликлар, Daryo.uz](https://daryo.uz/uz/persona/behruz-karimov/)
3. [KARIMOV È BIANCONERO, FC Lugano (10 August 2026)](https://fclugano.com/news/karimov-e-bianconero)
4. [Bekhruz Karimov, Player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.us/bekhruz-karimov/profil/spieler/1106187)
5. [Bekhruz Karimov (Lugano) Stats, Soccerway](https://www.soccerway.com/player/karimov-bekhruz/tYdoTuF8/)
6. [Karimov: 'I chose Lugano because of its project', FC Lugano (25 August 2026)](https://fclugano.com/en/news/karimov-ho-scelto-lugano-per-il-suo-progetto)
7. [FIFA Full Time Match Report, Uzbekistan v. Colombia, Group K, 17 June 2026](https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce281/r12513/pdf/FullTimeMatchReport-English.pdf)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania › Middle Eastern and Central Asian footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license