Colombia Returns to World Cup After Eight Years, Opens Against Uzbekistan Debutant

Colombia will begin its 2026 World Cup campaign against Uzbekistan on June 17 at the iconic Estadio Ciudad de México, marking the South American nation's return to the tournament after an eight-year absence. The Colombian team, coached by Argentine Néstor Lorenzo, last competed in Russia 2018, where it was eliminated on penalties by England in the round of 16. The squad has undergone significant transformation, with young star Luis Díaz, who recently won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich at age 29, now leading the attacking charge alongside veteran James Rodríguez in his potential final World Cup appearance.

Uzbekistan will be making its first-ever World Cup appearance, having qualified through a strong performance in the Asian qualifiers under Italian coach Fabio Cannavaro, a former World Cup winner himself. The Central Asian nation features Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov as its lone representative in Europe's top five leagues. This will be an inaugural meeting between the two nations, with both teams seeking to make an early impact in Group K, which also includes Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Colombia arrives as clear favorites, having finished third in South American qualifying and as runners-up at the 2024 Copa América under Lorenzo's leadership. The coach has indicated the starting lineup is already determined, with no surprises expected. Notably, Colombia has never won a match while playing in Mexico, recording three draws and four losses in previous friendlies at the venue, though the team has historically enjoyed success against Asian opposition, posting a 19-7-6 record across 32 matches against 11 different AFC nations. Lorenzo emphasized respect for the opposition, stating "Uzbekistan has had good results against good teams, has a great coach, and four or five quality players," warning against underestimating any World Cup opponent.

The Estadio Ciudad de México, formerly known as the Azteca Stadium and home to more than 80,000 spectators, will host this Group K opener. Colombia last played there 24 years ago in friendly matches against Mexico, making this return particularly significant. A victory would align with Colombia's successful World Cup starts in Italy 1990 and Brazil 2014, positioning the team well for advancement and potentially avoiding powerhouses like England or Croatia in the round of 16.