FIFA World Cup 2026 Advertisement live Updated 3m ago The first round of group matches at the 2026 World Cup concludes with a clash between Uzbekistan and Colombia in Mexico City. The teams go head to head in Group K, which also features Portugal and DR Congo. This is Uzbekistan’s first World Cup appearance, while Colombia return to the tournament having failed to qualify in 2022. Join our matchday discussion and email: live@theathletic.com. Uzbekistan head coach Fabio Cannavaro isn’t concerned about the altitude in Mexico City. The Italian national team legend explained to reporters yesterday why arriving the day prior to tonight’s match was the right decision: 💬 “I’ve had the experience of going to a World Cup in South Africa. We went with Italy to a place in the mountains for 25 days. That’s been the worst World Cup we’ve had with the Italian national team. In the end, we decided to come here at the last minute. Play and leave. “It’s different because as a player, you’re focused. You’re mentally prepared to get yourself ready alone. But the problem is that when the match is about to start, my job, so to speak, ends, and then their job begins. That’s why I hope we’ve prepared everything well, and that we’ll see good work out there.” The air is thin at the Estadio Azteca, the setting for tonight’s Group K clash against Colombia. The Mexico City smog doesn’t help either. Colombia has been based in Guadalajara and spent two days in Mexico City. Additionally, Colombia held their pre-World Cup camp in the capital of Bogota, which is 8,661 feet above sea level. Mexico City is approximately 7,350 feet. No doubt who Uzbekistan’s main man at the back is. That will be Abdukodir Khusanov, the Manchester City centre-back. He is already his country’s most famous footballer ever. Fabio Cannavaro said yesterday of Khusanov, the trend-setter: 💬 “He knows how to control the situation, how to control the pressure. The guys are like a family behind him. He can play every position. “In the future, we will see more Uzbek players in Europe. I’m sure of that.” Eldor Shomurodov is going to be Uzbekistan’s main attacking threat tonight. He’s built like an NBA forward and if he is clinical, Colombia could catch a surprise. Uzbekistan has a stellar Under-20 men’s side so it’s no surprise, albeit rare, to see 18-year-old defender Bekhruz Karimov in the lineup. He may see himself matched up against Bayern Munich superstar Luis Diaz. Quite the assignment for the teenager. Cannavaro has stuck to a back five that will sit deep and try to frustrate Colombia — it won’t be as expansive as our previous graphic makes it look! As a youngster, Eldor Shomurodov held the hand of Rivaldo as the Brazil legend spent time in Uzbekistan and his career wound down. Now, Shomurodov is his nation’s all-time leading scorer and the man they need to fire if they are to make an impact in the World Cup. A move to Roma in 2021 did not work out but in Turkey, where he moved afterwards, he has rediscovered his scoring touch. He is part of The Athletic’s World Cup Stars of Soccer series — and you can read his profile here. Honestly, this might as well be a Colombia home match. I can see a tiny group of Uzbekistan fans gathered behind one of the goals, plus a few Mexico shirts here and there, but the rest of the stadium is yellow. Noisy, too. Big cheer when James Rodriguez’s name was mentioned on the PA, as you’d expect. Gearing up to be a great atmosphere. Colombia’s Jefferson Lerma is without a doubt the side’s unsung hero. He may be just as important as Luis Diaz. The Crystal Palace defensive midfielder sits at the heart of Colombia’s spine and is accustomed to doing plenty of running in the middle of the park. With James given the freedom to roam, Colombia’s midfield of Lerma, Puerta and Arias have to control possession and progress the ball quickly. Nestor Lorenzo also spoke yesterday about James Rodriguez, now 34 and without a club — but still the talisman of this side, as F
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