Colombia made a winning start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign after defeating Uzbekistan 3-1 in their Group K opener at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Wednesday night.
The South American side entered the tournament as one of the favorites to progress from the group and showed their quality by securing all three points against a determined Uzbekistan team making its World Cup debut. The victory moves Colombia to the top of Group K and gives them an early advantage ahead of upcoming matches against DR Congo and Portugal.
Colombia started strongly and took control of the match from the opening minutes. Their dominance paid off when defender Daniel Muñoz opened the scoring, giving Nestor Lorenzo’s side an early lead and settling the nerves of the large Colombian crowd that had packed the historic Azteca Stadium.
The South Americans continued to press forward and doubled their advantage through star winger Luis Diaz. The Bayern Munich forward, playing in his first World Cup, delivered another impressive performance as he found the back of the net and further strengthened his reputation as one of Colombia’s most important players. Diaz also contributed an assist during the match and was among the standout performers on the night.
Despite falling behind, Uzbekistan refused to give up and responded with determination. The Central Asian side, appearing in its first-ever World Cup tournament, increased the pressure in the second half and managed to pull a goal back to make the contest more competitive. Their aggressive approach forced Colombia to defend for longer periods and briefly raised hopes of a comeback.
However, Colombia remained composed and restored their two-goal advantage when substitute Jaminton Campaz scored the team’s third goal. The strike effectively ended Uzbekistan’s hopes of rescuing a result and ensured Colombia would begin their World Cup journey with an important victory.
Speaking after the match, Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo admitted that the atmosphere inside the Azteca Stadium affected some of his players emotionally despite the victory. He praised the team’s performance but expressed disappointment that they failed to convert more of the opportunities they created during a dominant first half.
Lorenzo also noted that Uzbekistan became more dangerous after adopting a direct style of play in the second half, forcing Colombia to work harder than expected for the three points. He urged his players to remain focused as the tournament progresses.
For Luis Diaz, the match marked another milestone in an outstanding career. The 29-year-old produced a goal and an assist while leading Colombia’s attack with confidence and creativity. His performance drew praise from supporters and reinforced expectations that he could play a key role in Colombia’s quest for a deep run at the tournament.
The result leaves Colombia in a strong position heading into their second group match against DR Congo. A victory in that fixture would move them closer to securing a place in the knockout stage. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, will look to recover quickly as they continue their historic first appearance at the World Cup.
While the scoreline suggests a comfortable victory, Colombia were tested by a resilient Uzbekistan side that showed glimpses of quality throughout the encounter. Nevertheless, the South Americans demonstrated why they are regarded as one of the strongest teams in Group K, beginning their campaign with a professional performance and three valuable points.
