Uzbekistan vs Colombia - prediction, team news, lineups | World Cup 2026

Making their long-awaited debut astatine football's biggest festival, Uzbekistan volition commencement their World Cup 2026 run successful Mexico City, with a clash against Colombia connected Wednesday.

Both teams are aiming for a top-two decorativeness successful Group K - which besides features Portugal and DR Congo - arsenic 3rd spot risks an aboriginal exit.

Match preview

After respective near-misses since Uzbekistan gained independency from the Soviet Union backmost successful 1991, the Central Asian federation has yet qualified for a elder World Cup.

On respective occasions they fell astatine the last hurdle, but this clip the White Wolves tore done AFC qualifying, losing lone 1 of 16 games en way to North America. 

Ranked 50th successful the satellite by FIFA, they impressively finished 2nd to Iran successful some rounds, but caput manager Timur Kapadze was inactive dispensed with. 

Now led by erstwhile satellite champion Fabio Cannavaro, who lifted the game's top prize with Italy 20 years ago, Uzbekistan warmed up for the radical signifier with a brace of pre-tournament friendlies.

After World Cup co-hosts Canada won 2-0 connected location turf, they were beaten 2-1 by the Netherlands successful New York, highlighting the size of Cannavaro's task.

Ahead of a pugnacious trial against Group K favourites Portugal adjacent week, the Uzbeks volition conscionable Colombia for the archetypal clip to date, arsenic a federation of astir 40 cardinal radical watches and hopes.

While the White Wolves are making their debut, Colombia are acceptable for a seventh World Cup quality this summer.

After reaching the past Copa America final, optimists volition anticipation to surpass the country's champion showing truthful far, which came 12 years agone erstwhile they were eliminated successful the quarter-finals by Brazil.

Realists expect them to simply get past the archetypal phase, which Los Cafeteros did some successful 2014 and 2018, winning 5 of six radical games on the way.

Having missed retired connected Qatar 2022, Colombia comfortably booked their summons this time, finishing 3rd successful CONMEBOL qualifying and notably beating Brazil 2-1.

Only satellite champions Argentina scored much goals crossed the marathon process, arsenic established stars specified arsenic Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez came to the fore.

Ranked 13th by FIFA, Nestor Lorenzo's men past followed back-to-back defeats against Croatia and France during the March planetary model with 2 lukewarm up wins earlier this month.

After a 3-1 triumph implicit Costa Rica, the South American broadside built much momentum by defeating Jordan 2-0, with Jhon Arias scoring some goals.

Uzbekistan signifier (all competitions):

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Colombia signifier (all competitions):

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Team News

One of the world's champion defenders successful his playing days, Cannavaro has usually opted for a risk-averse 3-4-2-1 setup since taking complaint of Uzbekistan, with Abdukodir Khusanov playing a cardinal role.

Aside from the Manchester City centre-back, lone ex-Roma guardant Eldor Shomurodov - who is the White Wolves' all-time apical scorer with 44 goals - and his Istanbul Basaksehir teammate Abbosbek Fayzullaev play successful Europe.

The second - named Asia's champion young subordinate successful 2023 - scored 4 goals during World Cup qualifying, portion skipper Shomurodov recovered the nett 5 times and notched 4 assists.

Experienced midfielder Jaloliddin Masharipov is apt to miss retired connected gathering Colombia owed to a backmost injury, but Los Cafeteros should person a cleanable measure of health.

Supporting lone striker Luis Suarez, they are expected to commencement Diaz and seasoned skipper Rodriguez successful a potent attack.

Only Lionel Messi scored much goals than Diaz during CONMEBOL qualifying, and Rodriguez led the assistance charts with seven; Suarez racked up 38 nine goals for Sporting Lisbon past word but has yet to marque a people astatine planetary level.

Meanwhile, Jefferson Lerma and Benfica's Richard Rios should diagnostic successful cardinal midfield, though Gustavo Puerta provides an alternate box-to-box option.

Uzbekistan imaginable starting lineup:

Yusupov; Khusanov, Abdullaev, Ashurmatov; Sayfiev, Shukurov, Mozgovoy, Nazrullaev; Fayzullaev, Urunov; Shomurodov

Colombia imaginable starting lineup:

Vargas; Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica; Lerma, Rios; Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Suarez

We say: Uzbekistan 0-1 Colombia

While inactive extracurricular the established radical of elite shot nations, Colombia volition fancy their accidental of making a heavy tally astatine this World Cup, pursuing the daze nonaccomplishment to suffice for Qatar.

Simply gladsome to beryllium there, Uzbekistan look acceptable to driblet heavy and absorption connected defence, truthful Los Cafeteros whitethorn triumph their Group K opener by a azygous goal.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.