The star winger scored a goal and set the stage for another as Colombia won the FIFA World Cup.
Published June 18, 2026
Colombia opened World Cup Group K with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan at the Estadio Azteca on Wednesday, as Daniel Muñoz, Luis Diaz and Jaminton Campas overcame a lively second-half reaction from the tournament debutants.
Uzbekistan had been disciplined for long periods under Italian coach Fabio Cannavaro, but Colombia’s superior quality was on display in front of a crowd of more than 80,000 in Mexico City on a cool, rainy evening.
Recommended stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
Colombia, the Copa America runners-up, looked to score early with the breakthrough of John Arias and James Rodriguez, but Uzbekistan sat deep, playing the game and waiting for a mistake. Behluts Karimov almost had a chance when he darted forward, but John Rukmi intervened before he could take a shot.
Díaz had the most decisive chance of the first half, hitting the post, but after the winger parried the ball away, Abdukkodir Kusanov slipped in, injuring a Colombian player and a pitchside cameraman who needed treatment.
Uzbekistan’s resistance was finally broken in the 40th minute. Díaz collected the ball after the attack broke down and clipped a great pass into the path of Muñoz, who scored a superb goal for his third international goal.
Large Colombian troops assembled, their yellow shirts making the Aztecs look like home. The chorus of “Vamos Colombia,” an arrangement of the Club América-style chorus, echoed around the field, and a small group of Uzbek supporters responded with their own drums.
Faizulaev scores Uzbekistan’s first World Cup goal
Uzbekistan improved after the break and equalized with their first goal of the World Cup in the same period.
Dostonbek Khamdamov fed Eldor Shomrodov and his shot from the right of the box was saved low by Camilo Vargas. However, the goalkeeper was unable to contain it and Avosbek Faizulaev nodded in the rebound from close range.
But Uzbekistan’s joy lasted only five minutes.
Coach Gustavo Puerta released Díaz in the 65th minute, with the forward’s wide foot crossing the goal to give Colombia back the lead. The crowd responded with chants of “Lucho, Lucho.”
Uzbekistan kept pushing. In stoppage time, Akmal Mozgovoi had a shot narrowly wide, Karimov hit the bar from distance and Azizbek Amonov had his shot blocked after receiving a pass from Otabek Shklov.
However, Campas’ goal in the ninth minute of stoppage time ended Colombia’s 15 attempts for Nestor Lorenzo’s side and nine for Uzbekistan, extending their recent strong group stage record to seven wins out of eight World Cup matches.
Colombia will play the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Guadalajara on Tuesday, while Uzbekistan will play Portugal on the same day in Houston.
The FIFA World Cup begins on June 11th. Check out Al Jazeera’s dedicated 2026 World Cup page for all the latest news, fixtures and live text commentary, and stay up to date with group standings, real-time results and schedules.
