Colombia opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over tournament debutant Uzbekistan in Mexico City, a result built on quick attacking reactions and a late insurance goal after Uzbekistan had briefly turned the match into a real test.
Colombia take control, then respond to pressure
Daniel Muñoz put Colombia ahead with a polished first-half finish, giving Nestor Lorenzo’s side the kind of early platform it wanted in a group-stage opener. Uzbekistan, playing on the World Cup stage for the first time, did not fade after conceding. Abbosbek Fayzullaev answered with a historic equalizer, scoring Uzbekistan’s first ever FIFA World Cup goal and briefly shifting the momentum toward the debutants.
The match’s decisive swing came when Luis Díaz restored Colombia’s lead soon after the equalizer. That quick response mattered as much as the finish itself: instead of letting Uzbekistan settle into the emotion of a landmark goal, Colombia immediately reasserted the tempo and forced the game back into the pattern it preferred.
Campaz seals a valuable opening win
Uzbekistan continued to chase the game, but Colombia had the better late margin for error. Jaminton Campaz headed in during stoppage time to make it 3-1 and remove the final tension from a match that had become more uncomfortable than the scoreline may suggest.
For Colombia, the takeaway is straightforward. A first World Cup match often brings risk: heavy expectation, nervous energy and an opponent with little to lose. Colombia still found three goals, had multiple attackers involved and avoided the kind of opening-day draw that can complicate group calculations immediately.
What the result means for the group
The three points put Colombia in a strong early position, especially because goal difference can become decisive in a short group phase. The performance was not flawless, and the equalizer showed that Colombia will still need cleaner control after taking the lead. But the response from Díaz and the stoppage-time header from Campaz gave the team both the result and a useful attacking confidence boost.
Uzbekistan leave with no points, but their first World Cup goal gives the debutants a clear emotional marker. Fayzullaev’s finish showed they can hurt elite opposition when given space, and the next step is turning those moments into longer spells of pressure. Their remaining group matches now carry greater urgency, but this opener suggested they will not be a passive opponent.
Key facts
- Final score: Colombia 3-1 Uzbekistan.
- Colombia scorers reported in match coverage: Daniel Muñoz, Luis Díaz and Jaminton Campaz.
- Uzbekistan scorer: Abbosbek Fayzullaev, credited with the country’s first FIFA World Cup goal.
- The match was covered as a World Cup opener in Mexico City by major sports outlets.
Sources
- FOX Sports: Uzbekistan vs Colombia highlights and goal clips
- USA Today: Colombia survives Uzbekistan for wild World Cup win
- Al Jazeera: Luis Diaz dazzles as Colombia beat Uzbekistan 3-1
- The Athletic / New York Times: 2026 World Cup schedule and scores
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