Uzbekistan vs Colombia Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
Uzbekistan are one of four debutants at FIFA World Cup 2026 as the Central Asians kick off their Group K campaign against Colombia at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport website & app / USA – FOX One
Uzbekistan preview: FWC debutants
Uzbekistan qualified for the tournament under the management of Srecko Katanec and then Timur Kapadze but they have since appointed FIFA World Cup 2006 winner and Ballon d'Or winner from the same year, Fabio Cannavaro.
The Uzbeks will believe they can be steady and awkward to play against here, especially with Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov at the back. They kept a couple of clean sheets against Egypt and IR Iran to kick off their year in the March international break.
Colombia preview: A recent dip
Colombia had been one of the strongest sides in international football between FIFA World Cup 2022 and the final of 2024 CONMEBOL Copa America with a long unbeaten run of form but the South Americans have dipped a bit since then, although they should still be strong side in North America.
The Colombians began their calendar year worryingly poorly. Having been beaten 2-1 by Croatia, they were then comfortably defeated by three goals to one by a star-studded French side a few days later during the March international break.
Uzbekistan team news
Team news will appear here closer to the match…
Predicted XI (X-X-X-X): TBC
Unavailable: TBC
Questionable: TBC
Colombia team news
Team news will appear here closer to the match…
Predicted XI (X-X-X-X): TBC
Unavailable: TBC
Questionable: TBC
Uzbekistan’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Abdukodir Khusanov ($4.3m) – Defender
Sherzod Nasrullaev ($3.7m) – Defender
Eldor Shomurodov ($6.5m) – Forward
Matchday 1 captain pick: Eldor Shomurodov
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Eldor Shomurodov
Free kicks: Jaloliddin Masharipov, Abbosbek Fayzullaev
Corners: Jaloliddin Masharipov, Abbosbek Fayzullaev
Colombia’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Daniel Munoz ($4.6m) – Defender
Luis Diaz ($8.1m) – Midfielder
Luis Suarez ($5.7m) – Forward
Matchday 1 captain pick: Luis Diaz
Set-piece duty
Penalties: James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz
Free kicks: James Rodriguez
Corners: James Rodriguez
Key stats
- Uzbekistan have made history by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time.
- Uzbekistan’s youth teams have also made their mark on the global stage, reaching the quarter-finals twice at the FIFA U-17 World Cup (2011 and 2023) and twice at the FIFA U-20 World Cup (2013 and 2015).
- Uzbekistan’s head coach is Italian great Fabio Cannavaro, a veteran of four FIFA World Cup tournaments as a player and the captain who famously led Italy to glory in 2006.
- Colombia are making their seventh FIFA World Cup appearance in 2026, returning to the global stage for the first time since 2018 after missing out on Qatar 2022.
- Colombia’s finest performance at the finals came at Brazil 2014, where they reached the quarter-finals for the first time in their history. The campaign was lit up by James Rodriguez, whose six goals earned him the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot, making him the first Colombian player to win the award.
- Colombia have lost their opening match in four of their six FIFA World Cup appearances (W2).
- Colombia’s head coach, Nestor Lorenzo, previously finished as a FIFA World Cup runner‑up in 1990 during his playing career with Argentina.
- David Ospina, Camilo Vargas, Santiago Arias and James Rodriguez are all appearing at their third FIFA World Cup, equalling the Colombian record jointly held by Faryd Mondragon, Freddy Rincon and Carlos Valderrama.
Click here for EVEN MORE stats & facts about this fixture!
Uzbekistan vs Colombia prediction
Alongside Congo DR and Portugal, Group K is one of the more fun groups on paper - and should, or at least could, be quite an entertaining watch. Colombia have to remain favourites here but the awkward Uzbeks will believe they can punish a sometimes porous Colombian back-line, despite the quality that Nestor Lorenzo possesses in that area of the pitch.
Uzbekistan vs Colombia betting tip: Colombia to win & both teams to score
