Colombia began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with an impressive 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan on Thursday, moving to the top of Group 11 after a performance inspired by forward Luis Díaz.
The South American side emerged victorious in a competitive encounter that saw Uzbekistan fight back after falling behind, only for Colombia to regain control and secure all three points with a late third goal.
The match, played as part of the tournament being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, gave Colombia the ideal start to their World Cup journey and placed them in a strong early position in the group standings.
Munoz Breaks the Deadlock Before Uzbekistan Respond
Colombia took the lead four minutes before half-time through Daniel Muñoz.
The move began with a brilliantly executed pass from Luis Díaz, who delivered a lofted ball behind the Uzbek defence. Muñoz timed his run perfectly and met the pass with a volley that found the back of the net, giving Colombia a deserved advantage in the 41st minute.
The goal rewarded Colombia’s attacking approach and capped a strong first-half display from Díaz, who repeatedly caused problems for the Uzbek defence.
Earlier in the match, the Bayern Munich forward had come close to scoring himself, only to be denied by the post in the 32nd minute.
Despite Colombia’s dominance for long periods, Uzbekistan remained in the contest and eventually found a route back into the game shortly after the hour mark.
In the 61st minute, Abbasbek Faizullayev capitalised on a rebound from the goalkeeper and calmly converted from close range, sparking celebrations among the Uzbek supporters and bringing the scores level at 1-1.
Díaz Restores Colombia’s Advantage
Uzbekistan’s joy proved short-lived, however, as Colombia quickly responded.
Just five minutes after the equaliser, Gustavo Puerta intercepted possession from the Uzbek defence and advanced before delivering a decisive pass into the path of Díaz. The Colombian forward made no mistake when presented with the opportunity, finishing confidently to restore his team’s lead in the 66th minute.
The goal underlined Díaz’s influence on the match. Having already provided an assist for the opening goal, he added his own name to the scoresheet and continued to drive Colombia forward.
As Uzbekistan searched for another equaliser in the closing stages, Colombia remained dangerous on the counterattack and looked increasingly likely to add a third goal.
Campaz Seals Victory Deep Into Added Time
The decisive moment arrived in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
Jaminton Campaz rose to meet a cross and headed home to make it 3-1, effectively ending any hopes of a late Uzbekistan comeback and confirming Colombia’s victory.
The late strike ensured the final scoreline reflected Colombia’s superiority over the course of the match and provided a fitting conclusion to an encouraging opening performance.
Díaz Leads Colombia to the Top
Much of the attention after the match centred on Díaz, whose contribution proved decisive.
The 29-year-old forward delivered a goal and an assist and was widely regarded as the standout performer on the pitch. His display continued the form he had shown during an outstanding season with Bayern Munich and highlighted his importance to Colombia’s World Cup ambitions.
The result leaves Colombia alone at the summit of Group 11 with three points. They benefited from the 1-1 draw between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which leaves those two nations occupying the next positions in the standings.
Uzbekistan, meanwhile, begin their campaign at the bottom of the group without a point, knowing they will need a positive response in their upcoming fixtures to keep their hopes of progression alive.
For Colombia, however, the tournament could hardly have started better, with a commanding performance and a victory that places them in early control of their World Cup destiny.
