The final score of Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia saw Los Cafeteros mark their return to the World Cup with a hard-earned win over the tournament debutants. The match took place on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, under the watch of referee Anthony Taylor. Played as the opening fixture for both teams in Group K, the contest saw Nestor Lorenzo’s Colombia control the game, survive a brief Uzbek fightback, and pull clear late on through Jaminton Campaz.
Key Takeaways
- The final score of Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia confirmed a winning start for Nestor Lorenzo’s side in their World Cup 2026 Group K opener at the Estadio Azteca.
- Daniel Munoz, Luis Diaz and Jaminton Campaz scored for Colombia, with Abbosbek Fayzullaev replying for Uzbekistan on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
- The result marked Colombia’s return to the World Cup for the first time since 2018, ending an eight-year absence from the tournament.
- Fayzullaev’s equalizer was Uzbekistan’s first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup, scored on their tournament debut with their first touch in the opposing box.
- Luis Diaz starred with a goal and an assist, becoming the first player at this World Cup to score, assist and hit the woodwork in the same match.
Match Highlights
Watch the best moments from Colombia’s 3-1 win over Uzbekistan below.
How did the goals go in?
The scoring sequence for the Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia match began in the fortieth minute. Daniel Munoz arrived at the end of a slick team move to finish off a flowing attack and give Colombia a deserved 1-0 lead, which they carried into half-time after dominating the ball without always finding a cutting edge.
Uzbekistan stunned the Estadio Azteca on the hour mark. In the sixtieth minute, Abbosbek Fayzullaev was in the right place to tap home after the ball broke loose, leveling the score at 1-1. It was a landmark moment as the strike became Uzbekistan’s first-ever goal at a World Cup on their tournament debut.
Colombia’s response was immediate. Just five minutes after the equalizer, in the sixty-fifth minute, Luis Diaz restored the lead when his shot was mishandled by the Uzbek goalkeeper and crept in to make it 2-1. The momentum swung firmly back toward Los Cafeteros.
The win was sealed deep into stoppage time. In the ninth added minute of the second half, an unmarked Jaminton Campaz met a cross from the right and slammed it home to confirm the 3-1 final score and put gloss on a controlled Colombian performance.
How did the match unfold?
Colombia were in command for long spells, monopolizing the ball and restricting Uzbekistan to almost nothing in the first half, during which the debutants failed to register a single touch in the opposition box. Munoz’s well-worked opener reflected that control, and although Fayzullaev’s equalizer briefly threatened an upset, Diaz’s quick riposte settled any nerves before Campaz applied the finishing touch.
Tactical overview
Managed by Nestor Lorenzo, Colombia held 61% of possession and created the far better openings, fashioning four big chances to Uzbekistan’s none and posting an expected-goals figure of 1.61. Luis Diaz was the focal point of everything good, leading the game for touches in the opposing box and duels won as Colombia probed patiently for the decisive moments.
Uzbekistan’s response
Fabio Cannavaro’s side, appearing at their first-ever World Cup, weathered heavy early pressure and grew bolder after the break, with their first meaningful foray forward yielding Fayzullaev’s historic equalizer. They could not sustain it, however, conceding within five minutes and ultimately being undone by a late third, but a spirited second-half showing offered encouragement for the debutants.
How did the match statistics compare?
| Stat | Uzbekistan | Colombia |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 39% | 61% |
| Shots on target | 2 | 4 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.16 | 1.61 |
| Big chances | 0 | 4 |
| Saves | 1 | 1 |
| Fouls committed | 14 | 11 |
This was a story of Colombian control and superior chance quality. Los Cafeteros owned 61% of the ball and carved out all four of the match’s big chances, finishing with an expected-goals figure of 1.61 to Uzbekistan’s 1.16. The debutants competed hard, committing more fouls as they tried to disrupt Colombia’s rhythm, but they managed just two shots on target and were second best in the areas that mattered.
Why was this result notable?
Luis Diaz was the standout performer, capping a dominant individual display with a goal and an assist. While no official Player of the Match award was reported, his influence was decisive: he became the first player at this World Cup to score, set up a goal and strike the woodwork all in the same match.
The night carried history for both nations. The win marked Colombia’s return to the World Cup for the first time since 2018, ending an eight-year absence, while Fayzullaev’s equalizer was Uzbekistan’s first-ever goal at the tournament on their debut appearance. For the White Wolves, that milestone offered a measure of consolation in defeat.
What does this result mean for Group K?
The other Group K match on Wednesday, June 17, finished Portugal 1-1 DR Congo at Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium) in Houston, with the Leopards earning a historic first World Cup point. After the opening round of matches, Colombia sit top of the group on three points.
Colombia lead Group K on goal difference (+2) after their win. Portugal and DR Congo share second and third on one point each following their draw, while Uzbekistan are bottom on zero points after this defeat.
Implications for both teams
Colombia will be delighted with a winning return to the World Cup, even if they made hard work of seeing off a determined debutant, and top spot in the group gives them a strong platform. Uzbekistan, by contrast, will take pride in their historic first goal but leave with nothing, and now face a difficult task to recover against Portugal and DR Congo.
Key tactical takeaways
The contrast between the two sides was clear. Colombia controlled possession and territory and created the higher-value chances, leaning on the individual brilliance of Diaz to unlock a stubborn opponent. Uzbekistan defended in numbers and rode their luck at times, threatening only sporadically, but showed enough fight after the break to suggest they will not be pushovers in this group.
Looking ahead
Colombia will look to build on their winning start when they face their remaining Group K fixtures against Portugal and DR Congo, with progress to the knockout rounds firmly in their own hands. Uzbekistan must regroup quickly and chase a first World Cup point of their own, knowing another defeat would likely end their hopes of advancing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score?
The match finished 3-1 to Colombia against Uzbekistan in their Group K opener on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Who scored the goals for each team?
Daniel Munoz (40′), Luis Diaz (65′) and Jaminton Campaz (90+9′) scored for Colombia. Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored Uzbekistan’s goal in the sixtieth minute.
Did the match set any records?
Yes. Fayzullaev’s goal was Uzbekistan’s first ever at a World Cup, scored on their debut. The result also marked Colombia’s return to the tournament after an eight-year absence since 2018.
How did the match unfold?
Colombia dominated and led through Munoz before Fayzullaev equalized on the hour. Diaz restored the lead five minutes later, and Campaz added a third deep in stoppage time to secure a 3-1 win.
What does this result mean for Group K?
After one round of matches, Colombia lead Group K on three points following their win. Portugal and DR Congo each have one point from their 1-1 draw, while Uzbekistan are bottom on zero points.
