Uzbekistan lost their opening World Cup match 3–1 to Colombia at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with full time just after 02:00 UTC on 18 June. Daniel Munoz put Colombia ahead in the 40th minute, finishing a flowing team move set up by Luis Diaz. Then, on the hour, Abbosbek Fayzullaev turned in an equaliser — the first goal any Uzbekistan side has scored at a World Cup, and the first by any Central Asian nation at the tournament.
The parity lasted five minutes. Luis Diaz restored Colombia's lead in the 65th with a low shot the Uzbek goalkeeper failed to hold, and Jaminton Campaz headed in a third deep into stoppage time, assisted by Cucho Hernandez. The 3–1 scoreline flattered Colombia, ranked 14th in the world and a CONMEBOL qualifier; for long stretches of the second half Uzbekistan pushed out of their defensive shape and made the favourites uncomfortable.
Fayzullaev's equaliser on the hour was the first World Cup goal any Central Asian nation has ever scored.
Fabio Cannavaro, the 2006 World Cup winner who coaches Uzbekistan, made an attacking change at the break, bringing on Dostonbek Khamdamov, and the team responded. Eldor Shomurodov, the qualifying campaign's talisman with nine goal contributions, led the line until the final minute. Uzbekistan sit bottom of Group K after matchday one, behind Colombia, Portugal and DR Congo, who drew with Portugal earlier in the day.
The result leaves qualification from the group a steep climb, but the debut was never only about points. Uzbekistan reached the finals for the first time, scored at the first opportunity, and gave a young squad a marker to build on. The next match, against the group's other sides, will tell whether the milestone becomes a campaign. For one night the country had what it came to Mexico for: a goal in the record books and a team that did not look out of place at the world's biggest stadium.