Latin America Sports Daily for Wednesday, June 18, 2026

01

Colombia beat Uzbekistan and go top of Group K — Díaz the difference after the equaliser

World Cup

Estadio Azteca at 10pm on a Wednesday night, and Colombia were finally playing. A full week after the tournament began, Néstor Lorenzo’s side had watched every other result, done the homework, and arrived in Mexico City as the last South American team to open their World Cup campaign.

It was not always pretty, but three points is three points.

Daniel Muñoz broke the deadlock in the 40th minute with a crisp finish on the end of a team move that Díaz had set up, and Colombia controlled the first half comfortably. Uzbekistan made changes at half-time, found their shape, and Abbosbek Fayzullaev equalised in the 60th minute with a tap-in that was also their nation’s first-ever goal at a World Cup.

The equaliser unsettled Colombia. Five minutes later, Luis Díaz struck from distance and the Uzbek goalkeeper Yusupov misjudged the trajectory, allowing a weak shot to slip through his hands and into the net.

The second goal was the most important moment of the match, a goalkeeper error that shifted the momentum back before Uzbekistan could build anything from their leveller.

Jáminton Campaz ended any late tension with a header from Juan Hernández’s cross in the ninth minute of stoppage time, completing the 3-1 win and sending Colombia to the top of Group K.

James Rodríguez played but was not at his most influential; the platform for this win came from the midfield energy of Jefferson Lerma and the directness of Díaz, whose assist and goal underlined why he is Bayern Munich’s most consistent wide forward this season.

Colombia’s next game: DR Congo on June 23 in Guadalajara.

02

Portugal held by DR Congo — and Ronaldo’s sixth World Cup began quietly in Houston

World Cup

Portugal started perfectly: João Neves headed home a Pedro Neto cross in the sixth minute and the Group K favourites were ahead almost before the tournament clock had started for them.

DR Congo — appearing in their first World Cup since 1974, when they were known as Zaire, they had other plans. Yoane Wissa rose unmarked in the penalty area in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time and headed the ball past Diogo Costa to level it up before the break.

It was DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup goal and their first World Cup point. The celebrations from both bench and fans in the stadium were extraordinary for something that will read as a 1-1 draw in the record books.

Portugal dominated possession in the second half but could not convert; a Cancelo overhead kick was ruled offside and Ronaldo’s chances faded. Bernardo Silva was substituted at half-time.

Ronaldo played all 90 minutes; at 41 years and 132 days he became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match, drawing level with Maldini on 23 appearances all-time.

The match had a moment of deep meaning before it began: Portugal players wore wristbands bearing the name of Diogo Jota, their striker and teammate who died in a car crash earlier this year. It was a quiet, visible tribute in the warmup and throughout the match.

Portugal must beat both Uzbekistan and Colombia to be certain of advancing from Group K.

03

Messi and Ronaldo at their sixth World Cups — the same milestone, twenty-four hours apart

World Cup

Within 24 hours of each other, the two most discussed footballers of this era both played their sixth World Cup, a milestone nobody in the history of the sport had reached before either of them.

On Tuesday night in Kansas City, Messi scored three times against Algeria on his 200th cap, equalised Klose’s all-time World Cup goals record, and left the pitch to a standing ovation before the final whistle.

On Wednesday afternoon in Houston, Ronaldo played 90 goalless minutes against DR Congo, had two half-chances that did not trouble the goalkeeper, and watched his team draw 1-1 with a side who had not been to the World Cup since 1974.

The contrast is not a verdict; DR Congo were organised and dangerous, and the conditions in Houston differed from Kansas City.

But football at this level is often about moments, and Messi found three of them while Ronaldo found none. For now, South America’s greatest player leads his great European rival in the only race that still separates them: the World Cup record books.

Messi needs one more goal to hold the all-time scoring record alone. Ronaldo, stuck on eight, needs nine, a number he is unlikely to reach.

Both will be remembered forever. But this World Cup, so far, belongs to one of them more than the other.

04

Brazil on Friday, Paraguay and Ecuador on Thursday — matchday two for South America begins

World Cup

South America’s matchday two runs across the next four days and every game carries real stakes.

Thursday June 19: Paraguay vs Türkiye (Santa Clara, 11pm ET)

Paraguay lost 4-1 to the USA; Türkiye lost 2-0 to Australia; both sit bottom of Group D and the loser of Thursday’s game is effectively eliminated. Alfaro is expected to change his system and Enciso’s fitness remains the tournament’s most persistent subplot.

Friday June 19: Brazil vs Haiti (Philadelphia, 9pm ET)

Neymar has been targeting this game since his May calf injury; the CBF has been preparing him for exactly this moment. Casemiro and Danilo fitness updates from the Morocco game are expected before the squad travels to Philadelphia; Brazil are second in Group C behind Scotland.

Friday June 20: Ecuador vs Curaçao (Toronto, 6pm ET)

Must-win for Ecuador after the Ivory Coast defeat. Curaçao were beaten 7-1 by Germany; Ecuador need the points and they need the goals.

Sunday June 21: Uruguay vs Cape Verde (Miami, 6pm ET)

Uruguay drew Saudi Arabia 1-1 without De Arrascaeta and Ronald Araújo; Cape Verde held Spain 0-0. This match, expected to be routine for Uruguay, now looks anything but.

05

Frequently asked questions

FAQ

How did Colombia get on against Uzbekistan?

Colombia won 3-1 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 17, opening their Group K campaign at the top of the group. Daniel Muñoz scored the opener in the 40th minute after a Díaz assist; Uzbekistan equalised in the 60th through Fayzullaev, their first-ever World Cup goal, before Díaz restored the lead in the 65th when a weak shot slipped through the goalkeeper’s hands.

Campaz headed home a third in stoppage time. Colombia enter matchday two as the only team in Group K with three points; their next game is DR Congo on June 23 in Guadalajara.

Why did Portugal only draw with DR Congo?

Portugal went ahead through João Neves in the sixth minute but DR Congo, appearing at the World Cup for the first time since 1974, equalised through Yoane Wissa just before half-time. The goal was DR Congo’s first ever at a World Cup.

In the second half Portugal dominated but could not score; a Cancelo goal was ruled offside and Silva was substituted at half-time. Portugal must beat both Uzbekistan and Colombia to feel secure in Group K.

Will Neymar play against Haiti on Friday?

He is expected to make his World Cup debut on Friday June 19 in Philadelphia at 9pm ET, most likely from the bench rather than from the start. The CBF confirmed his most recent MRI showed good progress, and the camp has been preparing him specifically for the Haiti game since the Morocco draw on June 13.

He has not played since May 17 (33 days by June 19) and will almost certainly come on as a substitute. A win against Haiti puts Brazil in a strong position before the June 24 group finale against Scotland in Miami.