Uzbekistan v Colombia: World Cup 2026 - live

On the topic of goalscorers, Justin Kavanagh joins in by email to discuss a striker who failed to find the back of the net earlier today. “Strange how we’ve seen a 40-year-old goalkeeper perform miracles for Cape Verde, and an aging Messi put on a masterclass for the next generation. Yet Ronaldo, for all his years of dedicated self-preservation, looks like the oldest man at this tournament. He used to be wind in Portugal’s sails, but now he looks like their anchor. Yet presumably Roberto Martínez won’t do the necessary and make him walk the plank.”

I agree entirely. Extending the point somewhat, Roberto Martinez must be great in job interviews, or have a massive cache of incriminating photographs of significant football administrators. Behind a modest CV he was gifted Belgium’s greatest ever cohort and never looked like winning anything with them, now he has arguably the strongest squad at the finals under his management. At a World Cup notable for its array of superstar coaches it’s hard not to think Portugal may be handicapped by theirs and his inability to make the tough call(s).

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Preamble

Jonathan Howcroft

Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of match 24 of the 2026 World Cup between Uzbekistan and Colombia. Kick-off in this Group K clash at the Estadio Azteca is 8pm local time (10pm EDT/3am BST/12pm AEST).

The final match of the opening round of fixtures is, on paper, perhaps the most unprepossessing. Uzbekistan, on World Cup debut, scored just 14 goals in their 10 AFC qualifying matches, and they take on a Colombia side that have gone off the boil since an incredible unbeaten run that stretched over two years from 2022 to 2024.

Uzbekistan are one of the few little-known quantities at the finals. They began their qualification journey led by Slovenian Srečko Katanec, but ill health forced him to resign in 2025, handing the reins to national hero Timur Kapadze. The step up from under-23 coach was seamless with Kapadze going unbeaten in his eight matches in charge to confirm the White Wolves’ participation in North America.

But then in October of last year the Uzbekistan FA parachuted in Fabio Cannavaro. The 2006 World Cup winning captain has done nothing in his coaching career to date to suggest he is worthy of such a gift. A decent four-year spell at Guangzhou Evergrande ended in 2021, since when he has coached only briefly – and unsuccessfully – at Benevento, Udinese, and Dinamo Zagreb.

A mere 18 months ago Colombia would have been among the tournament favourites. Remodelled by Néstor Lorenzo, the Argentine oversaw victories over Germany, Brazil, and Japan, as well as taking Argentina to extra time of the final of the Copa America. But recent friendly defeats to France and Croatia exposed the limitations of a squad still reliant on James Rodriguez to pull the strings. Luis Diaz has prodigious talent but saw his form wane for Bayern Munich, while the disappearance off the radar of Jhon Duran since leaving Aston Villa for Saudi Arabia has robbed Lorenzo of an x-factor.

I’ll be back shortly with team news and a roundup of all the matchday action so far. In the meantime you can keep an eye on Ghana v Panama and email any thoughts about the tournament so far to jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com.

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