Daniel Muñoz put Colombia ahead 1-0 late in the first half against Uzbekistan in partido colombia hoy at Estadio Ciudad de México. The goal gave Colombia the edge in its first match of the 2026 World Cup group stage, with the opener carrying immediate weight in Group K.
Muñoz Finishes Díaz Cross
Luis Díaz delivered the cross that found Muñoz for the goal. Colombia needed that connection after Uzbekistan had already pulled level once, when Abbosbek Fayzullaev made it 1-1.
That sequence defined the match’s sharpest pressure point. Colombia created the better opening through Díaz, but Uzbekistan stayed in it after Fayzullaev’s equalizer, forcing the game back into a tight first-half battle before Muñoz restored Colombia’s lead.
Colombia’s Set-Piece Threat
The goal fit a broader pattern from Colombia’s qualifying run. The team scored seven headed goals in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying and added four goals from corner kicks, which gave the first-half finish more than just one-off value.
Díaz also tested Uzbekistan from the left side of the area, hitting the post with a left-footed shot. Johan Mojica was booked after fouling Fayzullaev, and British referee Anthony Taylor oversaw the match.
Estadio Ciudad de México Debut
This was the first meeting in history between Uzbekistan and Colombia, so the opening half carried a new matchup feel for both sides. For Néstor Lorenzo’s team, the result at Estadio Ciudad de México offered the start it wanted in the tournament opener, while Fabio Canavaro’s side had already shown it could answer once before Muñoz’s finish put Colombia back in front.
The scoreline left Colombia with the more useful opening in the 2026 World Cup group stage. In a first-round match that briefly swung to 1-1, Muñoz’s goal gave Colombia the lead it needed to shape the rest of its campaign from the first whistle onward.
