Uzbekistan will make their World Cup debut against Colombia in a Group K match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City today, June 17, 2026, kicking off at 8 p.m. local time [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The Central Asian nation qualified for the tournament for the first time by finishing second in their Asian qualifying group, scoring 14 goals across 10 AFC matches [1, 3, 6, 5].

The Uzbekistan squad is led by Italian coach Fabio Cannavaro, who was appointed in October 2025. The 2006 World Cup-winning captain and former Ballon d'Or winner urged his players to enjoy the historic debut but also fight hard. "I try to help remove the pressure. The stage is tough. I try to explain to them to enjoy it because it's the first time, we don't have anything to lose. But it doesn't mean that we will just be enjoying the moment. We know that we need to fight," Cannavaro said [1, 2, 4, 6].

He praised the Uzbekistan Football Federation for investing heavily in youth development. "One of the things that was important when I decided to sign for Uzbekistan was that the federation invests a lot of money in the academies and facilities [they opened a well-appointed national football centre last year]. The future Uzbekistan footballers will grow, and we'll see more of them playing in Europe," Cannavaro said [6].

Manchester City center back Abdukodir Khusanov is a key figure in Uzbekistan’s defense [1, 2, 3, 4]. Before Cannavaro, Timur Kapadze briefly coached the team after Srečko Katanec resigned due to ill health in 2025 [5]. Uzbekistan enter the tournament ranked 50th by FIFA [6].

Colombia return to the World Cup after missing the 2022 edition. The South American nation, coached by Nestor Lorenzo, reached the 2024 Copa America final where they lost to Argentina in extra time [1, 3, 5]. Their squad includes notable players Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez, with the latter possibly playing in his last World Cup [1, 3].

Cannavaro described the experience of entering the Estadio Azteca as surreal. "You get goosebumps when you enter this stadium. Maradona and Pele made history here, it's quite a dream for us," he said [2].

The match today is Uzbekistan’s first step on the World Cup stage. The outcome will set the tone for their group campaign in Mexico City.