Uzbekistan Loses World Cup Debut 1–3 to Colombia

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan's long-awaited arrival on football's biggest stage produced a moment of history and a 1–3 defeat, as Colombia proved too clinical in a Group K opener that nevertheless gave Fabio Cannavaro's side reason for cautious optimism heading into a daunting second fixture against Portugal.

Played in Mexico City, the match was the Uzbek national team's first-ever appearance at a FIFA World Cup — a milestone in itself for a nation that navigated a 48-team qualification process to reach a tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Goals

Colombia controlled the tempo and broke the deadlock through Daniel Muñoz on the 40th minute. Abbosbekk Fayzullayev, the Uzbek attacking midfielder who plies his club trade at Turkish side Başakşehir, pulled one back on the 60th minute — a strike that entered the history books as the first goal ever scored by Uzbekistan at a World Cup. Luis Díaz restored Colombia's two-goal advantage on 65 minutes before Jaminton Campaz sealed the result deep in second-half stoppage time to complete a 3–1 scoreline.

Cannavaro: "This Match Will Be Remembered"

Speaking after the final whistle, head coach Fabio Cannavaro — the former Italy captain and World Cup winner who took the Uzbekistan job as one of international football's more intriguing managerial experiments — offered a measured but positive reading of his team's second-half display.

"The players created several dangerous moments and tried to take the initiative," Cannavaro said, acknowledging errors while noting the team managed to change the course of the game after the break. He emphasized that Uzbekistan came to the tournament to represent the country with dignity on the world stage, and described the occasion as a historic one for Uzbek football.

Group K Standings and What Comes Next

Colombia sit atop Group K with three points after the opening round. In the group's other fixture, Portugal and DR Congo played out a 1–1 draw, leaving both on one point apiece. Uzbekistan face Portugal on June 23 — a steep ask against one of the tournament favorites — while Colombia meet DR Congo the following day.

The 2026 World Cup, expanded to 48 nations for the first time, runs through July 19. Argentina enter the tournament as defending champions.