![\"Colombia's](\"https:\/\/sports.inquirer.net\/files\/2026\/06\/AP26169128317133-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nColombia\u2019s Luis Diaz (7) celebrates after scoring their second goal in the course of the World Cup Group K soccer match between Uzbekistan and Colombia in Mexico City, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashtin Barker)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
MEXICO CITY\u2014 Colombia arrived on the World Cup with dreams of redemption after missing out on Qatar in 2022. Even though it was tense at times, the Cafeteros got off to a robust start.<\/p>\n
Luis D\u00edaz had a goal and an assist in his debut on soccer\u2019s biggest stage, sparking Colombia to a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
READ: World Cup 2026: How are the favorites shaping up?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what we got here here to do. It\u2019s very essential to win this primary game. We controlled the primary half, but they played higher within the second,\u201d said D\u00edaz, who plays for Bayern Munich. \u201cWe must improve.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel Mu\u00f1oz, also playing in his first World Cup, opened the scoring within the fortieth minute after a pass from D\u00edaz, who scored the tiebreaking goal within the sixty fifth when his strike from close range deflected off the hands of diving goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov and trickled across the road.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew that it was going to be a tricky match,\u201d Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo said.<\/p>\n Uzbekistan goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov (1) fails to save lots of the goal from Colombia\u2019s Luis Diaz (7), left, in the course of the World Cup Group K soccer match between Uzbekistan and Colombia in Mexico City, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo\/Fernando Llano)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Fayzullaev Abbosbek scored within the sixtieth minute for Uzbekistan, which made its World Cup debut in front of a heavily pro-Colombia crowd of 80,824 at Estadio Azteca.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a superb joy, but emotionally, I feel it weighed on a number of the players who suffered physically,\u201d Lorenzo said. \u201cIt has to do with the emotional burden generated by the opening match and the setting through which we played \u2014 especially since we were expected to take the initiative and were under pressure to win.\u201d<\/p>\n With the White Wolves\u2019 defeat, three of the 4 debuting teams at this 12 months\u2019s World Cup lost their first match. Cape Verde played Spain to a draw, while Cura\u00e7ao and Jordan lost.<\/p>\n \u201cFor a small team like ours, to lose 3-1 is simply too much,\u201d said Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro, an Italian who took over the team in October 2025. \u201cWe now have good quality for an Asian team, but we want to grow. It was a superb experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Jaminton Campaz added a goal in second-half stoppage time for the Colombians, who’re ranked thirteenth on the planet and were heavy favorites over Fiftieth-ranked Uzbekistan. Colombia\u2019s best World Cup finish was a run to the quarterfinals in Brazil in 2014.<\/p>\n \u201cWe would have liked to hit the bottom running. Now we are able to enjoy the remainder of the night,\u201d midfielder Gustavo Puerta said.<\/p>\n Colombia moved atop Group K, ahead of Portugal and Congo, who played to a surprising 1-1 draw earlier Wednesday.<\/p>\n The Colombians will face Congo next Thursday at Guadalajara, Mexico, while Uzbekistan will tackle Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal at Houston.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re going to play against a tricky team that played great against among the best teams on the planet. It’ll be hard,\u201d Lorenzo said.<\/p>\n![\"Uzbekistan](\"https:\/\/sports.inquirer.net\/files\/2026\/06\/AP26169130797272-scaled.jpg\")
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