Daniel Muñoz hails World Cup debut, warns Uzbekistan will be tough

Daniel Muñoz arrived at his first World Cup with the confidence of a player at the peak of his career, but he was careful not to let Colombia sound complacent before its Group K opener against Uzbekistan in Mexico City. The Crystal Palace defender, fresh from winning the Conference League, framed the debut as a test of concentration and control, stressing that Colombia would have to fight for every ball to start the tournament with a win.

The match carried immediate weight for Colombia, which returned to a World Cup after missing Qatar 2022. At the Estadio de la Ciudad de México, also known as the Estadio Azteca, kickoff was set for 19:00 local time, 02:00 UTC, against an Uzbekistan side that had already been cast as a dangerous first hurdle in a group that also included Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In a tournament that punishes early slips, Colombia’s opening night was about more than talent. It was about discipline, tempo and whether a favored side could impose itself when the margins were still narrow and the pressure was immediate.

Muñoz’s rise has made him one of the faces of Néstor Lorenzo’s squad, and the timing sharpened the expectation around him. Local coverage has described the Antioqueño as one of the players who arrived with momentum after a strong club season in England, and as one of the 17 Colombia players making their World Cup debut. For Muñoz, the occasion carried personal significance as well: this was his first World Cup, and he has spoken publicly about wanting Colombia to think bigger than participation.

That ambition has also shaped the tone around the dressing room. Muñoz has insisted that Colombia must play as a collective while leaning on its individual quality, a message that fits an opener where a fast start mattered as much as reputation. FIFA also highlighted the experience of James Rodríguez and Juan Fernando Quintero, who were poised to appear in their third World Cup together, giving Colombia a core of veteran presence alongside a large group of first-timers.

The result against Uzbekistan was likely to reveal early whether Colombia’s campaign could match its ambitions. A debut that looked manageable on paper had become a real examination of control, patience and competitive maturity, the kind of opening that can define a team’s World Cup trajectory before the group stage truly settles.