Mexico City: Luis Diaz marked his FIFA World Cup debut in style, scoring one goal and setting up another as Colombia opened their 2026 campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan at the Estadio Azteca on Wednesday.

The Liverpool forward played a decisive role in helping Colombia secure all three points in Group K, with Daniel Muñoz and Jaminton Campaz also finding the net for the South American side.

Colombia controlled possession for much of the contest and created the better opportunities against an Uzbekistan team making its first-ever appearance at the World Cup.

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Their dominance was rewarded five minutes before half-time when Diaz delivered a precise pass for Daniel Muñoz, who finished clinically to give Los Cafeteros a deserved 1-0 lead.

Despite Colombia’s control, Uzbekistan showed resilience after the break and stunned their opponents in the 60th minute. Abbosbek Fayzullaev capitalised on a lapse in concentration in the Colombian defence to level the scores and register a memorable World Cup goal for the Central Asian nation.

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The equaliser briefly raised hopes of a famous upset, but Colombia responded quickly.

Just five minutes later, Diaz took matters into his own hands, finding the back of the net in the 65th minute to restore Colombia’s advantage and put his side back in control.

Uzbekistan continued to battle but struggled to create enough chances to threaten another comeback as Colombia tightened their grip on the match.

The result was put beyond doubt deep into stoppage time when substitute Jaminton Campaz added a third goal, sealing a 3-1 victory and ensuring a winning start for Nestor Lorenzo’s side.

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Ranked 13th in the world, Colombia entered the match as clear favourites against 50th-ranked Uzbekistan and ultimately lived up to expectations despite a brief scare in the second half.

The victory sends Colombia to the top of Group K after fellow contenders Portugal and DR Congo played out a surprise 1-1 draw earlier in the day, giving the South Americans an early advantage in the race for a place in the knockout stages.

For Uzbekistan, the defeat marked a disappointing end to a historic night, though the World Cup debutants showed enough quality and determination to suggest they could still challenge in their remaining group matches.