Colombia Coach Admits Players Faced Immense Pressure Ahead of Opening World Cup Match

Colombia's national team coach, Néstor Lorenzo, admitted his players faced immense pressure to secure a victory against Uzbekistan in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. The South American squad ultimately defeated World Cup debutants Uzbekistan 3-1, but not before enduring a 1-1 deadlock. "We knew it would be a tough match," Lorenzo told the media.

Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored for Uzbekistan in the 60th minute, silencing over 80,000 spectators at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca. "It's an incredible joy, but it took an emotional toll on some of the players, who suffered physically. It was all about the emotional weight stemming from the first match and the atmosphere we played in – especially since we were expected to take the initiative and were under pressure to win," Néstor Lorenzo added.