MEXICO CITY – Colombia arrived at the World Cup 2026 with aspirations of redemption after missing out on Qatar 2022. Despite moments of tension, the Cafeteros made a powerful statement with a commanding performance, securing a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan in their opening match.
Luis Díaz, making his World Cup debut, was instrumental in the win, contributing a goal and an assist. His efforts were pivotal in guiding Colombia to a strong start, a crucial factor for a team eager to shake off the disappointment of previous qualifiers.
“That’s what we came here to do. It’s very important to win this first game. We controlled the first half, but they played better in the second,” said Díaz, who currently plays for Bayern Munich. His reflections on the match underscore the importance of adaptability and continuous improvement as the tournament progresses.
The scoring opened in the 40th minute with Daniel Muñoz netting his first World Cup goal, courtesy of a precise pass from Díaz. In the 65th minute, Díaz doubled the lead with a close-range strike that deflected off the goalkeeper, Utkir Yusupov, demonstrating the fine margins that often dictate the outcomes in high-stakes matches.
“We knew that it was going to be a tough match,” remarked Colombia’s coach Nestor Lorenzo, acknowledging the competitive nature of the tournament.
Uzbekistan, making its World Cup debut, managed to put a goal on the board with Fayzullaev Abbosbek scoring in the 60th minute. However, the match was largely dominated by a vocally supportive Colombian crowd of 80,824 at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
“It is a wonderful joy, but emotionally, I think it weighed on some of the players who suffered physically,” Lorenzo noted, reflecting on the pressures that come with such a high-profile opening match.
With the loss, three of the four debuting teams in this year’s World Cup faced defeat in their first outings, with Cape Verde managing to draw against Spain, while Curaçao and Jordan both fell to their opponents.
“For a small team like ours, to lose 3-1 is too much,” said Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro, a veteran Italian player turned manager. His assessment reflects the challenges faced by teams with less World Cup experience, highlighting the need for growth in future tournaments.
Jaminton Campaz capped off the scoring for Colombia in second-half stoppage time, securing all three points for the team, which is currently ranked 13th in the world. Historically, Colombia’s best World Cup finish was in 2014 when they reached the quarterfinals in Brazil.
“We needed to hit the ground running. Now we can enjoy the rest of the night,” expressed midfielder Gustavo Puerta, emphasizing the relief and excitement that accompanies a successful start.
With this victory, Colombia sits atop Group K, ahead of Portugal and Congo, who played to a surprising 1-1 draw earlier in the day.
Looking ahead, Colombia will face Congo next Thursday in Guadalajara, Mexico, while Uzbekistan prepares to take on Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in Houston.
“We are going to play against a tough team that played great against one of the best teams in the world. It is going to be hard,” Lorenzo concluded, setting the stage for another thrilling encounter.
Colombia’s journey to the World Cup was marked by a solid performance in South American qualifying, finishing third behind Argentina and Ecuador, while Uzbekistan secured its spot by finishing second in its Asian qualifying group, trailing only Iran.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
