Colombia vs Uzbekistan

Colombia open their 2026 campaign against an Uzbekistan side making only their second World Cup appearance, and the South Americans will be heavily favoured to take all three points. Los Cafeteros breezed through CONMEBOL qualifying with their trademark fluidity, James Rodríguez — still the creative heartbeat despite his years — orchestrating attacks behind a mobile front line that averaged over two goals per match in the qualifiers. Néstor Lorenzo has instilled a pragmatic edge without sacrificing Colombia's attacking identity, and the defensive discipline that once let them down has been quietly repaired.

Uzbekistan, by contrast, arrived via the AFC playoff route, scraping past regional rivals in matches that exposed a worrying vulnerability to high pressing. Srečko Katanec has made them harder to beat — the 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final run proved that — but they remain limited going forward, relying on Eldor Shomurodov's hold-up play and sporadic counter-attacks. The two nations have never met at senior level, which adds a layer of unpredictability, though Colombia's experience against Central Asian opposition in friendlies suggests they will not be caught cold. Expect Uzbekistan to sit deep in a mid-block, forcing Colombia to unlock a compact defensive shape.

If Luis Díaz can stretch the pitch on the left and draw defenders out of position, the gaps will appear. Colombia's bench strength could prove decisive in the second half.