Colombia beat – Colombia opened its 2026 World Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Wednesday, June 17. Daniel Muñoz scored in the 40th minute, Abbosbek Fayzullaev equalized for Uzbekistan shortly after halftime, and Colombia reg
Mexico City sounded like it was already calling for Colombia’s next move.
At Estadio Azteca on Wednesday, June 17, the stadium leaned hard toward the side in yellow as Colombia opened its 2026 World Cup campaign against debutant Uzbekistan. It took a goal in the 40th minute for the match to settle into a familiar rhythm—then it flipped, then it flipped back.
Colombia won the opener 3-1. Daniel Muñoz scored for Los Cafeteros in the 40th minute. Uzbekistan responded with a moment that carried its long-awaited first World Cup goal: Abbosbek Fayzullaev found the net 15 minutes after halftime to level the match.
The lead didn’t last on the scoreboard. Luis Díaz, a Bayern Munich man, restored Colombia’s advantage in the 65th minute. In the ninth minute of stoppage time, Jáminton Campaz headed home Colombia’s insurance goal to close out the 3-1 scoreline.
The final sequence mattered. With Colombia holding a one-goal advantage in the closing minutes. the team dropped a little deeper. inviting pressure from the Uzbeks as they pushed for the next breakthrough. But Colombia had already answered the equalizer—five minutes after surrendering it. Diaz put the match back in Colombia’s control.
The match also delivered early signs of what would come later. Through the 50th minute, Colombia carried the lion’s share of possession and dictated the pace. Despite that. Colombia couldn’t turn dominance into clear chances for long stretches; the first 25 minutes showed about 70% possession. but they were unable to create anything that looked clean.
In the first 10 minutes, both teams showed positive movement, and Uzbekistan’s World Cup debut began with an early free kick in a dangerous area within the first minute. The debutants earned the opportunity—but they couldn’t make anything of the set-piece routine.
The rest of the group schedule now shifts the attention forward. Colombia returns to the field on Tuesday, June 23 against DR Congo. Uzbekistan plays Portugal in the other Group K match on June 23.
The day before the opening whistle. Colombia head coach Néstor Lorenzo made one message the fans would recognize instantly: “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. thank you so much for all the love that you give us. ” he said on the day before Colombia’s opening match against Uzbekistan. anticipating the sea of yellow in the stands. He was right—the Colombian supporters flocked to Mexico City in large numbers from thousands of miles away.
Colombia’s night at Estadio Azteca ended with the points it needed, and Uzbekistan walked away with a painful-but-historic milestone. Abbosbek Fayzullaev’s goal was the first-ever World Cup goal for his country, even as Colombia’s experience, and a crowd that refused to quiet down, proved decisive.
Colombia is ranked—at least in this matchup—like the team that expects to win. Uzbekistan is ranked 50th in the latest FIFA rankings. Both facts stood beside the same question tonight: could the debutant keep the game within reach?
Through the run of play, Uzbekistan showed it could—long enough to score and level—before Colombia’s quality and timely responses took control again.
Colombia’s match against Uzbekistan kicked off at 10 p.m. ET in Mexico City. The Estadio Azteca, known for big nights, hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals.
Lineups listed for the match included the following players.
For Colombia: Camilo Vargas (Atlas). Álvaro Montero (Vélez Sarsfield). David Ospina (Atlético Nacional); Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace). Dávinson Sánchez (Galatasaray). Jhon Lucumí (Bologna). Johan Mojica (Mallorca). Willer Ditta (Cruz Azul). Santiago Arias (Independiente). Déiver Machado (Nantes). Yerry Mina (Cagliari); Gustavo Puerta (Crystal Palace). Jhon Arias (Palmeiras). Jorge Carrascal (Flamengo). Juan Camilo Portilla (Athletico Paranaense). Richard Ríos (Benfica). Juan Fernando Quintero (River Plate). James Rodríguez (Minnesota United). Jaminton Campaz (Rosario Central); Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich). Jhon Córdoba (Krasnodar). Luis Suárez (Sporting CP). Cucho Hernández (Real Betis). Carlos Andrés Gómez (Vasco da Gama).
For Uzbekistan: Utkir Yusupov (Navbahor). Abduvohid Nematov (Nasaf). Botirali Ergashev (Neftchi); Rustam Ashurmatov (Esteghlal). Farrukh Sayfiev (Neftchi). Khojiakbar Alijonov (Pakhtakor). Sherzod Nasrullaev (Nasaf). Umar Eshmurodov (Nasaf). Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City). Abdulla Abdullaev (Dibba). Bekhruz Karimov (Surkhon). Jakhongir Urozov (Dinamo Samarqand). Avazbek Ulmasaliev (AGMK); Otabek Shukurov (Baniyas). Jaloliddin Masharipov (Esteghlal). Odiljon Hamrobekov (Tractor). Oston Urunov (Persepolis). Jamshid Iskanderov (Neftchi). Dostonbek Khamdamov (Pakhtakor). Abbosbek Fayzullaev (Istanbul Basaksehir). Akmal Mozgovoy (Pakhtakor). Azizjon Ganiev (Al Bataeh). Sherzod Esanov (Bukhara); Eldor Shomurodov (Istanbul Basaksehir. on loan from Roma). Igor Sergeev (Persepolis). Azizbek Amonov (Bukhara).
James Rodríguez, listed among Colombia’s midfielders, is 34 years old and is set to celebrate his 35th birthday on July 12; he made his World Cup debut in 2014 and won the Golden Boot for Colombia.
For the rest of Group K’s timing: June 17 vs. Uzbekistan at 10 p.m. ET (Mexico City, Mexico); June 23 vs. DR Congo at 10 p.m. (Guadalajara, Mexico); and June 27 vs. Portugal at 9 p.m. (Miami, FL). The June 23 match between Portugal and Uzbekistan is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Houston, TX, and Portugal’s June 27 match against DR Congo is set for 7:30 p.m. in Atlanta, GA.
Whatever the next match asks of both teams, Wednesday night in Mexico City already delivered a clear result: Colombia scored when it needed to, answered immediately after being leveled, and put the game away late.
Colombia vs Uzbekistan 2026 World Cup Estadio Azteca Daniel Muñoz Abbosbek Fayzullaev Luis Díaz Jáminton Campaz Group K DR Congo Portugal
3-1 is kinda wild for an opener.
I don’t really know these teams but Colombia in Mexico City is a flex. I just saw the score and figured they’d run away with it.
Wait so Uzbekistan scored and then Colombia scored again like right after? Sounds like one of those matches where the defense just falls asleep for 5 minutes and then wakes up. Also Estadio Azteca always gives home team vibes even if it’s not really home.
Luis Díaz being in the 65th minute like that… isn’t he the guy from Bayern who never plays? Or am I mixing him up with someone else. Either way Colombia starting with a win over Uzbekistan makes sense to me because Mexico City is basically Colombia’s second home or whatever. Congrats though, Campaz heading it in sounds clutch.