Díaz and James lead Colombia into World Cup opener against Uzbekistan

Colombia kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign on Wednesday against Uzbekistan, with Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez set to lead the charge. Díaz, fresh off a season at Bayern Munich, enters the tournament as Colombia's most dangerous attacking weapon, while James remains the creative heartbeat of Néstor Lorenzo's side. Preparation has been solid – Colombia head into the opener on the back of a convincing friendly win in which Arias scored twice, and the starting eleven looks largely settled, with Flamengo supplying several key figures. The group stage path runs through Uzbekistan first, with early points vital before tougher tests await.