Luis Diaz Shines as Colombia Secure Opening World Cup Victory Against Uzbekistan

Colombia began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over tournament debutants Uzbekistan at the Estadio Azteca. Winger Luis Diaz was the standout performer, contributing a goal and an assist to secure all three points for the Copa América runners-up.

Diaz’s brilliance, coupled with goals from Daniel Muñoz and Jhon Arias, proved too much for a disciplined Uzbekistan side, despite a spirited second-half comeback that saw the debutants snatch an equalizer.

Colombia’s Early Dominance

Colombia started brightly, with early chances falling to Jhon Arias and James Rodriguez. However, Uzbekistan, managed by former player Fabio Cannavaro, adopted a deep defensive stance, frustrating Colombia’s attacking efforts for much of the opening period.

Uzbekistan’s Bekhruz Karimov showed glimpses of threat, bursting forward only to be thwarted by Jhon Lucumi. The closest Colombia came to an early breakthrough was when Diaz struck the post. A subsequent challenge by Abdukodir Khusanov on Diaz, as the winger attempted to get to the rebound, resulted in both players going down and a pitchside cameraman requiring medical attention.

Muñoz Breaks the Deadlock

The deadlock was finally broken in the 40th minute. After an attack broke down, Diaz collected the ball and delivered a precise pass to Daniel Muñoz, who guided a neat finish past the Uzbekistan goalkeeper for his third international goal. The goal sent the large Colombian contingent in the crowd of over 80,000 into a frenzy.

Uzbekistan’s Resurgence and Equalizer

Following the interval, Uzbekistan emerged with renewed determination. Their persistence paid off in the 60th minute when Dostonbek Khamdamov set up Eldor Shomurodov. While Camilo Vargas managed to save Shomurodov’s initial shot, the rebound fell kindly to Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who nodded home Uzbekistan’s first-ever World Cup goal.

Diaz Restores Colombia’s Lead

The equalizer, however, was short-lived. Just five minutes later, in the 65th minute, Gustavo Puerta released Luis Diaz. The winger made no mistake, side-footing the ball across the goalkeeper to restore Colombia’s advantage. The crowd responded with fervent chants of “Lucho, Lucho,” celebrating their star player.

Colombia Seals Victory in Stoppage Time

Despite late pressure from Uzbekistan, who saw efforts from Akmal Mozgovoy, Bekhruz Karimov (hitting the crossbar), and Azizbek Amonov narrowly miss or be blocked, Colombia had the final say. Jhon Arias sealed the victory with a goal in the ninth minute of stoppage time, ensuring Colombia extended their strong World Cup group stage record to seven wins in their last eight matches.

Colombia’s next fixture will be against DR Congo in Guadalajara on Tuesday. Uzbekistan faces Portugal on the same day in Houston. The FIFA World Cup officially commenced on June 11.

Key facts
| Stat | Colombia | Uzbekistan |
|—|—|—|
| Score | 3 | 1 |
| Goalscorers | Muñoz, Diaz, Arias | Fayzullaev |
| Venue | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |

This victory provides Colombia with a crucial three points in Group K, setting a positive tone for their World Cup campaign. For Uzbekistan, the match marks a historic debut on the world stage, but they will need to regroup quickly for their challenging encounter against Portugal.

Source: Yahoo Sports – https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lius-diaz-dazzles-colombia-beat-051718051.html

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