Lineups to start
Pre-match information
Colombia will face Uzbekistan in the opening match of Group K of the 2026 World Cup. The South American representative is rated higher thanks to possessing a quality squad and stable form in recent times.
Coach Nestor Lorenzo's team has made positive preparations before the tournament when they successively defeated Costa Rica with a score of 3-1 and Jordan 2-0 in friendly matches. After missing the 2022 World Cup, Colombia has returned strongly under the Argentine strategist with many impressive results, including victories against Brazil and Argentina in the South American regional qualifiers.
The combination of experienced veterans such as James Rodriguez, Yerry Mina, Jhon Cordoba and high-performing stars such as Luis Diaz or Jhon Arias helps Colombia become a formidable opponent. The tight defensive style and the ability to quickly change positions are the strengths of the South American team.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan entered the 2026 World Cup with many questions when experiencing a 3-match winless streak before the tournament. The Asian representative successively lost to Canada 0-2 and the Netherlands 1-2 in recent friendly matches.
Uzbekistan still possesses some notable faces such as striker Eldor Shomurodov or center-back Abdukodir Khusanov. However, the difference in squad quality, international playing experience and bravery in major tournaments makes the Central Asian team underestimated in this confrontation.
In terms of force, Colombia is likely to play with the familiar 4-3-3 formation. Luis Diaz is the biggest hope in attack, while James Rodriguez plays the role of regulating and organizing the play. On the Uzbekistan side, Khusanov will be an important stopper in defense, while Shomurodov is expected to create breakthroughs on the attacking front.
