Uzbekistan scores its first-ever World Cup goal, but Colombia’s quality eventually proves too much in an entertaining Group K opener.
Colombia opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, but Fabio Cannavaro’s side left Mexico City with plenty of reasons for optimism after a spirited performance in its World Cup debut.
Luis Díaz was the star of the evening, providing an assist and scoring a goal as Néstor Lorenzo’s men overcame stubborn resistance from the Central Asian side to move atop Group K alongside DR Congo, which earlier stunned Portugal with a 1-1 draw.
For long stretches, Uzbekistan frustrated Colombia with a disciplined defensive setup. Cannavaro deployed a compact 3-4-2-1 formation that transformed into a five-man back line without possession, limiting spaces for Colombia’s attacking stars and forcing the South Americans to circulate the ball patiently.
Colombia controlled possession from the outset but initially struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Richard Ríos surprisingly started on the bench, with Lorenzo opting for a more defensive midfield pairing of Jefferson Lerma and Kevin Puerta.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 41st minute.
After striking the post moments earlier, Luis Díaz showcased his brilliance with a perfectly weighted cross into the penalty area. Daniel Muñoz timed his run impeccably and finished with an acrobatic volley to put Colombia ahead.
Cannavaro reacted immediately after halftime, introducing fresh legs and pushing his defensive line higher up the field. The adjustment paid off almost instantly.
Five minutes into the second half, Eldor Shomurodov attempted an ambitious volley that Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas failed to handle properly. Abbosbek Fayzullaev reacted quickest and tapped home the rebound, scoring the first World Cup goal in Uzbekistan’s history and sending the Uzbek supporters into celebration.
The joy, however, proved short-lived.
Only four minutes later, Uzbekistan gifted possession away following a throw-in, allowing Kevin Puerta to recover the ball and feed Díaz in his favorite position on the left flank. The Liverpool winger cut inside and calmly finished, restoring Colombia’s lead at 2-1.
From that point on, Colombia managed the tempo of the game with greater authority. James Rodríguez quietly orchestrated play from deeper positions, while Jhon Arias worked tirelessly between the lines.
Uzbekistan still had moments to threaten. Karimov rattled the crossbar in the closing stages, and Mozgovoy forced Vargas into another save. But Colombia eventually secured the result in stoppage time.
Substitute Juan Camilo Hernández delivered an inviting cross into the area, and Jaminton Campaz arrived to finish confidently, putting the game beyond reach and sealing a deserved 3-1 victory.
Despite the defeat, Cannavaro could take pride from his team’s disciplined display. Uzbekistan demonstrated organization, resilience and enough quality to suggest it could still challenge DR Congo for third place and perhaps even dream of something bigger in the coming matches.
Match Report: Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia
Goals: 41′ Muñoz (COL), 50′ Fayzullaev (UZB), 54′ Luis Díaz (COL), 90+5′ Campaz (COL)
Uzbekistan (3-4-3): Yusupov; Khusanov, Ashurmatov (77′ Urozov), Mozgovoy; Shukurov, Uronov (46′ Khamdamov), Nasrullaev (46′ Sayfiev), Shomurodov (93′ Sergeev), Abdullaev, Fayzullaev (77′ Amonov); Karimov.
Head Coach: Fabio Cannavaro
Colombia (4-2-3-1): Vargas; Muñoz, Sánchez, Lucumí, Mojica; Lerma, Puerta (80′ Richard Ríos); Arias (92′ Gómez), James Rodríguez (77′ Campaz), Luis Díaz (92′ Castaño); Luis Suárez (80′ Hernández).
Head Coach: Néstor Lorenzo
Referee: Anthony Taylor (England)
Yellow Cards: Khusanov (Uzbekistan), Mojica (Colombia)
Red Cards: None
Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K
