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Colombia Beats Uzbekistan 3-1 in World Cup Opener

6/18/2026

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Summary

Colombia Defeats Uzbekistan

Colombia defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 in the Group K opener on June 17, 2026.
Daniel Muñoz gave Colombia the lead in the 40th minute.
Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored Uzbekistan’s first World Cup goal in the 60th minute to equalize.
Luis Díaz restored Colombia’s lead five minutes later with his first World Cup goal.
Jaminton Campaz headed the third Colombian goal in the ninth minute of stoppage time, sealing the 3-1 victory.

Summary

Uzbekistan Debuts

Uzbekistan debuted as a Central Asian nation at FIFA World Cup on June 17, 2026.
Uzbekistan qualified second to Iran in the AFC round with six wins, three draws, one loss.
Colombia qualified third in CONMEBOL behind Argentina and Ecuador, returning after missing 2022.
The match aired on FS1, streamed on FUBO at 7 p.m. MST (10 p.m. ET).
Betting odds listed Colombia -280, Uzbekistan +900, over/under 2.5, and a Colombia -1.5 spread +112.

Summary

Cannavaro Leads Uzbekistan

Fabio Cannavaro leads Uzbekistan’s debut World Cup campaign.
Abdukodir Khusanov, the first Uzbek in the Premier League with Manchester City, anchors defence.
The federation’s investment in academies and facilities prompts Cannavaro to expect more Uzbek stars in Europe.
The team will train in Atlanta before opening the tournament at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, a venue that gives Cannavaro goosebumps.

History

Historical Context

In 2002, FIFA staged the 17th World Cup jointly in South Korea and Japan—the first tournament ever hosted in Asia and the first co-hosted edition. The 32-team finals saw South Korea become the first Asian side to reach the semifinals, beating Spain and Italy en route. That breakthrough spurred federations to invest in academies and broadcasters to target emerging markets.

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Colombia Defeats Uzbekistan

Colombia defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 in the Group K opener on June 17, 2026.
Daniel Muñoz gave Colombia the lead in the 40th minute.
Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored Uzbekistan’s first World Cup goal in the 60th minute to equalize.
Luis Díaz restored Colombia’s lead five minutes later with his first World Cup goal.
Jaminton Campaz headed the third Colombian goal in the ninth minute of stoppage time, sealing the 3-1 victory.

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