Colombia opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 15. Goals from Daniel Munoz, Luis Diaz, and Jaminton Campaz secured the win for Colombia, while Uzbekistan managed to equalize once before Colombia pulled ahead again [1, 2].
More than 65,000 Colombian fans filled the stadium, creating a vibrant atmosphere that resembled a home game. Coach Nestor Lorenzo acknowledged the emotional weight this placed on some players, saying, "It is a beautiful energy, but emotionally it weighed on some of the players. I think it had to do with the emotional burden of the first game and also with the responsibility of being (match) favourites" [1].
Lorenzo had warned ahead of the match not to underestimate Uzbekistan, describing the tournament as one showing "there are no small teams and nobody should be underestimated" [3]. Despite entering as group favorites, Colombia struggled somewhat with their finishing and possession style, which Lorenzo said was "overly cautious" and sometimes confused intensity with quality of play [1, 2, 3]. Uzbekistan adopted a more direct and physical approach in the second half, forcing Colombia to defend deeper.
Colombia captain James Rodriguez was noted as physically improving, with Lorenzo stating, "James is doing well. He has been improving physically. His talent and his qualities mean that, even if he doesn't run as much as others, he gives clarity to the game and decides important moments" [3]. However, Rodriguez did not have a major impact against Uzbekistan's defensive setup.
After this win, Colombia tops Group K following Portugal and DR Congo's 1-1 draw. Colombia will face DR Congo in Guadalajara in their next match as they seek to secure a knockout stage berth [1, 2].
