Colombia 3-1 Uzbekistan: Luis Diaz and Late Campaz Strike Seal Group K Opener

Los Cafeteros Make a Winning Start in Mexico City

Colombia got their 2026 World Cup off to the start the market demanded, beating tournament debutants Uzbekistan 3-1 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. It was not the routine afternoon the pre-match odds implied, but Colombia had the quality to pull clear when it mattered and now sit top of Group K after matchday one.

Daniel Munoz opened the scoring in the 40th minute, heading Colombia in front before the break. Uzbekistan responded after half-time through Abbosbek Fayzullaev, whose strike was their nation's first ever World Cup goal and briefly threatened a genuine upset. Colombia's class told from there. Luis Diaz restored the lead in the 65th minute with the kind of finish that justifies his status as the side's most dangerous attacker, and Jaminton Campaz headed home an insurance goal deep into stoppage time to set the 3-1 final.

How the Betting Played Out

Colombia were clear favourites coming in, and the result protected that status, but the path matters for bettors. Uzbekistan's equaliser will have rattled anyone holding a Colombia clean-sheet ticket, and for a stretch the live market would have tightened considerably. The Over on match goals cashed comfortably with four scored, and Luis Diaz anytime-scorer backers were rewarded for trusting the most reliable route to a Colombia goal.

Colombia entered the tournament among the mid-tier outrights, typically priced between +1400 and +2000. A winning start with James Rodriguez pulling the strings keeps that number alive, and the manner of the late goals, rather than a nervy 2-1, slightly strengthens their goal-difference position in a group they are expected to win.

Group K After Matchday One

With Portugal and DR Congo playing out a 1-1 draw in the same group, Colombia's three points carry extra weight. Topping the group on day one puts the value on Colombia's group-winner and stage-advancement prices, where the books will continue to favour them, rather than on the match lines in their remaining fixtures.

DFS and Props Angles

Luis Diaz is the centrepiece of any Colombia DFS build. He is the focal point of the attack, he carries the highest shot and goal volume in the squad, and his pricing rarely reflects how much of Colombia's output runs through him. Daniel Munoz is the underrated piece: an attacking full-back who got on the scoresheet here, he offers goal and assist upside from a defensive position that DFS salaries systematically undervalue.

James Rodriguez remains the assist play. His role as Colombia's creator means he will regularly threaten the assist-or-goal combination props even when his own goal total stays modest, exactly the profile that made his pre-tournament fitness such a talking point.

The Bottom Line

Colombia did the job, survived a scare, and got a milestone moment out of Uzbekistan in the process. The win banks three points and keeps a credible outright price intact. Back the attacking trio, respect the goals in Colombia's games, and treat the group-winner market as the cleaner route to value.

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