Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia: Five key takeaways from FIFA World Cup 2026 clash
Colombia get their first World Cup 2026 win.
Colombia started their 2026 World Cup with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, although things suddenly became a little trickier than anticipated.
Daniel Muñoz struck the goal with an amazing mid-air touch after Luis Diaz found him with a wonderful assist. In response, Uzbekistan scored their first World Cup goal in the second half thanks to a header by Abbosbek Fayzullaev.
However, Colombia managed to respond, with Luis Diaz scoring his first World Cup goal and Jaminton Campaz adding the third in added time.
Also read: Ghana 1-0 Panama: Five key takeaways from FIFA World Cup 2026 clash
Five key takeaways from the game
5. Fabio Cannavaro – only fourth Ballon d’Or winner to appear in World Cup as a player & manager
Fabio Cannavaro took charge of his first-ever World Cup match as manager for Uzbekistan against Colombia. As Uzbekistan made their World Cup debut, Cannavaro also set a record as a player and manager.
He is now just the fourth person in history—after Franz Beckenbauer, Oleg Blokhin, and Marco van Basten—to have both won a Ballon d’Or and participated in a FIFA World Cup as a coach and player.
4. Luis Diaz scores first-ever World Cup goal
In Colombia’s 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan in Mexico, Luis Diaz scored a goal on his FIFA World Cup debut. This past season, Luis Diaz was outstanding for Bayern Munich. He continued to be so during the World Cup.
Diaz scored his first World Cup goal in the second half to put Colombia ahead in the game. However, before his goal, he had already contributed to a goal. He assisted Muñoz for their opening goal.
Also read: FIFA World Cup 2026: List of all Player of the Match award winners so far
3. Uzbekistan score first-ever World Cup goal
In Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Uzbekistan scored their first-ever World Cup goal when playing Colombia in Group K. Fayzullaev was in the ideal position to tap the ball in with his head after it deflected off Colombian custodian Camilo Vargas.
2. Luis Diaz becomes first Colombian player to score & assist in the World Cup since 1966
Luis Diaz was in terrific form in the game. He stole the limelight and guided Colombia to an important win over World Cup debutant Uzbekistan. He first set up Muñoz to give Colombia their first goal in the 2026 World Cup.
However, Uzbekistan managed to rally back in the game in the second half. Their equaliser didn’t last long, as after five minutes, Diaz gave the South Americans the lead in the game. By doing so, he became the first Colombian player to score & assist in the World Cup since 1966.
1. Abbosbek Fayzullaev scores Uzbekistan’s first World Cup goal
At the Group K match at Azteca Stadium, Abbosbek Fayzullaev became the first player from Uzbekistan to register a goal in a FIFA World Cup match.
Daniel Munoz gave Colombia the lead in the last moments of the first half. But Fayzullaev nodded from close range in the 60th minute to tie the score.
Also read: Who is Abbosbek Fayzullaev? Uzbekistan’s first-ever World Cup goalscorer
Where do Colombia stand in the group?
They are at the top of Group K.
Who scored for Uzbekistan against Colombia?
Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored the lone goal.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.
After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.