We controlled the first half, but they played better in the second. We must improve.
After four years away from football's grandest stage, Colombia returned to the World Cup not with hesitation but with declaration — dismantling Uzbekistan 3-1 at the storied Estadio Azteca before a crowd that had already chosen its side. At the center of the moment stood Luis Diaz, a 29-year-old making his long-awaited tournament debut, who scored and assisted in the same match — a feat no Colombian had achieved since 1962, when the world itself was a different place. History, it seems, does not always arrive on schedule, but when it does, it tends to arrive with force.
- Colombia entered their World Cup return carrying four years of absence and the full weight of a nation's expectations — pressure that their coach admitted visibly wore on his players.
- Luis Diaz, debuting at 29 on the sport's biggest stage, answered that pressure with a goal and an assist, becoming the first Colombian to achieve the feat in a single World Cup match since 1962.
- Uzbekistan briefly disrupted Colombia's rhythm with an equalizer in the 60th minute, injecting genuine tension into a match that had seemed comfortably in hand.
- Colombia reasserted control through Diaz's deflected strike and a late Campaz goal, ultimately sealing a 3-1 victory that placed them atop Group K above Portugal and Congo.
- Even in victory, the Colombians acknowledged the work ahead — Diaz measured, Lorenzo reflective — signaling that this opening statement is prologue, not conclusion.
Colombia's return to the World Cup after missing the 2022 tournament was swift and emphatic. At the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, before 80,824 fans who overwhelmingly backed them, they defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 in a performance that was dominant if not always comfortable.
The match belonged to Luis Diaz. The Bayern Munich winger, 29 years old and making his World Cup debut later than most had imagined, scored and assisted in the same game — something no Colombian had done in a World Cup match since 1962. Daniel Munoz opened the scoring in the 40th minute from a Diaz pass, but Uzbekistan leveled through Abbosbek Fayzullaev in the 60th. Five minutes later, Diaz restored the lead with a close-range strike that deflected in off the goalkeeper's hands. Jaminton Campaz sealed it in stoppage time.
Diaz remained grounded afterward, noting Colombia's need to improve in the second half despite the result. Coach Nestor Lorenzo was equally candid, acknowledging that the emotional burden of an opening match — compounded by crowd pressure and the expectation to dominate — had taken a physical toll on some players.
The victory placed Colombia atop Group K, ahead of Portugal and Congo following their surprising 1-1 draw. Ranked 13th in the world against 50th-ranked Uzbekistan, Colombia delivered on their billing. Their best World Cup finish remains a quarterfinal in 2014, and this beginning suggests they intend to reach at least that far. Next comes Congo on Thursday — the harder work of proving the statement was not just an opening flourish.
Colombia's long absence from the World Cup stage ended decisively on Wednesday in Mexico City. After missing the 2022 tournament entirely, they returned to the grandest stage of international football and announced themselves with a 3-1 dismantling of Uzbekistan at the Estadio Azteca, playing before a crowd of 80,824 that tilted heavily in their favor.
The story of the match, though, belonged to Luis Diaz. At 29 years old, the Bayern Munich winger was making his World Cup debut—a late arrival to the tournament's most hallowed ground. In that first match, he did something no Colombian had managed since 1962: he both scored and provided an assist in a single World Cup game. It was a performance that carried the weight of history, though Diaz himself kept his perspective measured. "That's what we came here to do," he said afterward. "It's very important to win this first game. We controlled the first half, but they played better in the second. We must improve."
Daniel Munoz, also playing his first World Cup match, opened the scoring in the 40th minute from a Diaz pass. Diaz himself broke the tie in the 65th minute with a powerful strike from close range that deflected off the hands of Uzbekistan goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov and crossed the line. Uzbekistan had briefly pulled level through Fayzullaev Abbosbek in the 60th minute, but Colombia's dominance proved too much. Jaminton Campaz added a third goal in stoppage time to seal the victory.
For Colombia's coach Nestor Lorenzo, the win came with complications. The emotional intensity of an opening match, combined with the pressure of expectations and the hostile environment for the opposing team, had taken a toll. "It is a wonderful joy, but emotionally, I think it weighed on some of the players who suffered physically," he reflected. "It has to do with the emotional burden generated by the opening match and the setting in which we played—especially since we were expected to take the initiative and were under pressure to win."
The victory positioned Colombia atop Group K ahead of Portugal and Congo, who had played to a surprising 1-1 draw earlier that day. Ranked 13th in the world, Colombia were heavy favorites against 50th-ranked Uzbekistan, and they delivered on that expectation. Their best World Cup finish remains a quarterfinal run in Brazil in 2014, and this commanding start suggests they may be capable of matching or exceeding that mark.
In a separate Group L match, Ghana edged Panama 1-0 in a contest decided in the final moments. Caleb Yirenkyi, just 20 years old, struck in the 95th minute after Thomas-Asante found space on the left wing and fired a cross into the box. "Get the ball to the wings, and then put it in the box, and we get runs," Yirenkyi explained, describing the straightforward but effective approach that had finally broken through Panama's defense. The goal came five minutes into stoppage time, denying Panama any chance at a response.
Colombia will next face Congo on Thursday in Guadalajara, while Uzbekistan travels to Houston to meet Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. The Colombians' statement has been made. Now comes the harder work of sustaining it.
Citações Notáveis
That's what we came here to do. It's very important to win this first game. We controlled the first half, but they played better in the second. We must improve.— Luis Diaz, Colombia forward
It is a wonderful joy, but emotionally, I think it weighed on some of the players who suffered physically. It has to do with the emotional burden generated by the opening match and the setting in which we played.— Nestor Lorenzo, Colombia coach
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Luis Diaz was 29 when he played his first World Cup match. That's unusually late to be making a tournament debut at that level. What does that tell us about his career path?
It speaks to how unpredictable football careers can be. He's been a strong player for years, but getting to a World Cup requires both talent and timing—your country has to qualify, you have to be in form, the coach has to select you. Diaz had all those things align for the first time at 29.
The fact that no Colombian had scored and assisted in a single World Cup match since 1962 is striking. That's 64 years. Why would that record be so hard to break?
It's a combination of rarity and specificity. You need a player good enough to impact a match in two different ways, playing in a system where both those contributions happen to occur in the same game. Colombia has had talented players in that span, but the stars have to align perfectly.
Coach Lorenzo mentioned the emotional weight of the opening match. Is that a real factor, or is he managing expectations?
Both, probably. Opening matches carry genuine psychological pressure—you want to make a statement, you're nervous, the crowd is intense. But he's also being honest about what he observed in his players. That kind of candor from a coach usually means he saw something real.
Colombia missed 2022 entirely. Does this win feel like vindication?
It feels like a reset. Missing a World Cup is humbling for a football nation. Coming back and dominating your first opponent sends a message that you belong. Whether it's vindication depends on how far they go from here.
Ghana's goal came in the 95th minute against Panama. How much does that late timing matter psychologically?
It's devastating for Panama. You've defended for 94 minutes, you think you might get a point, and then it's taken from you in the final breath. For Ghana, it's the kind of goal that builds belief—we found a way when it mattered most.