Luis Díaz leads Colombia to historic World Cup opening win

Luis Díaz turned Colombia’s World Cup opening into a statement, scoring once and setting up another in a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan at the Estadio de Ciudad de México. The result gave Colombia early control of Group K on June 18, and FIFA named Díaz the match’s standout after the winger drove the South Americans past a debutant that was making its first appearance at the tournament.

The win carried more than group-stage value for Colombia. Before kickoff, Colombia had lost four of its six World Cup openers, including a 2-1 defeat to Japan in Russia in 2018. This time, Colombia started fast, protected the lead and left no doubt that the opening-night nerves that have often slowed the team were absent in Mexico City.

Elsewhere, England delivered the day’s most convincing heavyweight result, beating Croatia 4-2 in Dallas in the opening match of Group L. Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford scored the second-half goals that separated the sides, while Harry Kane was chosen as Player of the Match. That mattered beyond the scoreline: Croatia arrived as the 2018 runner-up, and England’s ability to win an open, high-level duel suggested a side built for the deeper rounds rather than just a bright start.

Portugal, by contrast, left more questions than answers after a 1-1 draw with Congo DR in Houston. Yoane Wissa struck in first-half stoppage time to earn Congo DR its first-ever World Cup goal and first-ever point in a men’s World Cup, a breakthrough that altered the tone of Group L and exposed how thin the margins can be against a team under pressure. Ghana’s 95th-minute winner over Panama added to a day in which the tournament’s hierarchy looked less fixed than the preamble suggested.

Taken together, the results sharpened the early World Cup power map. England looked tournament-ready, Colombia looked composed and historically alert, and Congo DR showed it could turn a debut into a foothold. Portugal, meanwhile, looked vulnerable in a group that is already demanding more than reputation. Colombia’s next tests against Congo DR on June 24 and Portugal on June 27 will reveal whether Díaz’s opening burst was a one-day headline or the first clear sign of a team ready to stay in the conversation through July 19.