Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2026 World Cup Group K clash between Uzbekistan and Colombia at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Kick-off is at 8pm local time (10pm EDT, 3am BST, 12pm AEST).
Match Preview
This match is the final fixture of the opening round of group games. On paper, it may seem one-sided, but Uzbekistan, making their World Cup debut, have shown resilience. They scored only 14 goals in 10 AFC qualifiers but boast a solid defence led by Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov. Colombia, once tournament favourites, have cooled after a long unbeaten run from 2022 to 2024, but still feature stars like James Rodriguez and Luis Diaz.
Team News
Uzbekistan XI: 1 Yusupov; 18 Abdullaev, 5 Ashurmatov, 2 Khusanov; 13 Nasrullaev, 7 Shukurov, 6 Mozgovoy, 24 Karimov; 22 Fayzullaev, 11 Urunov, 14 Shomurodov.
Colombia XI: 12 Vargas; 2 Munoz, 23 Sanchez, 3 Lucumi, 17 Mojica; 14 Puerta, 16 Lerma; 11 Arias, 10 Rodriguez, 7 Diaz; 25 Suarez.
Key Moments
- 11.52 AEST: The teams stride out into the Mexico City evening. James Rodriguez looks focused as he takes in the sea of yellow Colombian shirts.
- 11.48 AEST: The Azteca is a sea of yellow; it feels like a home match for Colombia.
- 11.47 AEST: Uzbekistan wear all white, known as the White Wolves. Colombia sport a teal and navy change strip.
- 11.46 AEST: Conditions are cool and damp, around 19C with light rain, which suits the players.
- 11.41 AEST: This is the second match at the Estadio Azteca this tournament, a venue steeped in World Cup history.
- 11.38 AEST: English referee Anthony Taylor takes charge. He has officiated major finals and faced abuse from Roma fans in 2023.
Background
Uzbekistan's journey to the World Cup was guided initially by Slovenian Srecko Katanec, who resigned due to ill health in 2025. National hero Timur Kapadze took over and went unbeaten in eight matches to secure qualification. However, in October, the Uzbekistan FA surprisingly appointed Fabio Cannavaro, the 2006 World Cup-winning captain, whose coaching career has been modest.
Colombia, under Nestor Lorenzo, have impressed with wins over Germany, Brazil, and Japan, and took Argentina to extra time in the Copa America final. But recent friendly defeats to France and Croatia have exposed a reliance on James Rodriguez, while Luis Diaz's form at Bayern Munich has dipped. The departure of Jhon Duran to Saudi Arabia has also reduced their attacking options.
Other Matchday Action
Earlier today, Ghana snatched a last-minute winner against Panama to win 1-0 in Group L. England impressed with a 4-0 win over Croatia, while Portugal drew 1-1 with DR Congo, with Cristiano Ronaldo failing to make an impact. Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick for Argentina in a 3-0 win over Algeria, equalling a World Cup record.
Stay tuned for more updates as the match unfolds. You can follow all the action and send your thoughts to jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com.
