Colombia marked their return to the World Cup with an entertaining 3-1 victory over debutants Uzbekistan, as former Liverpool forward Luis DÃaz and Crystal Palace defender Daniel Muñoz found the net.
Having failed to qualify for the 2022 tournament, Colombia made a winning start at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City to move to the top of Group K.
Muñoz opened the scoring with a superb full-stretch volley, latching onto a brilliantly weighted pass from DÃaz, who had earlier struck the post.
Uzbekistan, coached by Italian World Cup-winning defender Fabio Cannavaro, drew level in the 60th minute when Abbosbek Fayzullaev headed home from close range after Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas had parried an effort from Gustavo Puerta.
However, the South Americans responded quickly. DÃaz restored Colombia's lead with a strike that found the net despite goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov getting both hands to the ball.
Ranked 50th in the world, Uzbekistan came close to equalising again when Akmal Mozgovoy curled an effort narrowly wide in the 90th minute. Colombia then sealed the win in stoppage time as substitute Jaminton Campaz headed in a third goal.
There was still time for Uzbekistan's Jakhongir Urozov to hit the crossbar, but Colombia held on comfortably to secure all three points.
For DÃaz, who helped Liverpool win the Premier League in the 2024-25 season before completing a £65.5 million move to Bayern Munich last summer, it was a landmark moment as he scored his first-ever World Cup goal.
The strike capped an outstanding first season in Germany, where he registered 15 goals and 14 assists to help Bayern Munich secure a domestic league and cup double.
