Uzbekistan U‑23 falls 1‑3 to Colombia in 2026 World Cup group stage

Uzbekistan's U‑23 national team made its debut in the 2026 World Cup group stage, facing Colombia at the historic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The side lost 1‑3, with forward Abbosbek Fayzullaev scoring Uzbekistan's first ever goal in a World Cup tournament and receiving the highest player rating of 7.1 points.

Statistical portals rated the Uzbek players, with Fayzullaev leading the team, while defender Abdukadir Husonov attracted attention after Manchester City posted a photo of him in the club’s kit with an Uzbek flag on Instagram, simply captioned “Uzbekistan”. The match marked Uzbekistan’s first appearance in the competition’s group phase, joining Colombia, Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group K.

The detailed player ratings showed a range from 7.1 points for Fayzullaev to 5.4 for goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov, reflecting a mixed performance that nevertheless offered optimism for upcoming fixtures.