UzbekistanvsColombia

Result

Colombia were given a real test by World Cup debutants Uzbekistan before pulling clear to a 3-1 win in front of 80,824 at the Estadio Azteca. Daniel Muñoz turned in Luis Díaz's through ball five minutes before the break, and although Abbosbek Fayzullaev headed Uzbekistan level on the hour with the nation's first-ever World Cup goal, Díaz restored the lead within five minutes. Substitute Jáminton Campaz headed in Cucho Hernández's cross deep in stoppage time to seal it, with James Rodríguez orchestrating Colombia's best work before he was withdrawn.

Uzbekistan 3-4-34-3-3 Colombia

Uzbekistan

Colombia

Fayzullaev60'

Muñoz40'

Luis Díaz65'

Campaz90'+9'

Khusanov34'

Mojica7'

39%Possession61%

8Shots15

2On target4

1Saves1

3Corners4

243Passes completed444

76%Pass accuracy86%

10Tackles10

5Touches in box27

Substitutions

Sayfievfor Nasrullaevat 45'

Campazfor James Rodríguezat 72'

Khamdamovfor Urunovat 45'

Ríosfor Puertaat 80'

Urozovfor Ashurmatovat 77'

Cucho Hernándezfor Luis Suárezat 80'

Amonovfor Fayzullaevat 77'

Castañofor Ariasat 90'+3'

Sergeevfor Shomurodovat 90'+3'

Andrés Gómezfor Luis Díazat 90'+3'

At this Stage

Group K's opening round belonged to Colombia, the only team in it to win. Their 3-1 over debutants Uzbekistan in front of 80,824 at the Estadio Azteca — James Rodríguez conducting — puts the Cafeteros top at +2, because Portugal were held 1-1 by Congo DR and share a single point with the Leopards. For Uzbekistan there was history inside the defeat: Abbosbek Fayzullaev's header was the nation's first-ever World Cup goal, even if zero points and fourth place is where debuts get graded. One round in, the table's most interesting line is at the top of it, though — the group's supposed heavyweight sits third, and Colombia have already banked the kind of win Portugal could not.

Group K

Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
Colombia	1	1	0	0	+2	3
Congo DR	1	0	1	0	+0	1
Portugal	1	0	1	0	+0	1
Uzbekistan	1	0	0	1	-2	0

Top two (above the accent line) advance to the round of 32; the third-placed team is in the race for one of the eight best-third spots.

What we know now

What I said beforehand

The preview, frozen at kickoff. Clearly dated, never rewritten — that's the deal that makes the predictions worth anything.

Colombia to win, though an Azteca altitude leveller keeps it interesting. Néstor Lorenzo's side reached the 2024 Copa América final and carry the night's clearest individual quality — James Rodríguez pulling the strings, Luis Díaz stretching the game, Luis Suárez and Jhon Arias supporting. Uzbekistan reach their first World Cup as a well-organised side under Fabio Cannavaro, with Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov a standout and captain Eldor Shomurodov a proven scorer. The debutants will compete, but Colombia's edge in the final third should decide it; 2-1 to the Cafeteros.

Both cases written 2026-06-16, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 30% belongs to the draw.