2026 World Cup | Colombia's debutants manage anxiety ahead of facing Uzbekistan

With 17 players set to experience their first World Cup in 2026, Colombia's national soccer team is managing internal anxieties as they prepare to face Uzbekistan on Wednesday at the Azteca Stadium. Central defender Willer Ditta, midfielder Juan Camilo Portilla, and winger Jáminton Campaz are among those selected by coach Néstor Lorenzo who will be making their World Cup debuts.

"The players making our first World Cup are filled with immense excitement and a great hunger to achieve glory and accomplish important things with the national team," Ditta said Sunday during a press conference. The Colombian squad is currently training in Guadalajara before traveling to Mexico City for their opening match in Group K against the Uzbek team.

Ditta, 29, stated that all 26 selected players are in optimal condition to handle the challenge of playing at Mexico City's 2,240-meter altitude, a factor he is accustomed to from playing with Mexican league champions Cruz Azul. He believes lessons learned from their recent 2-0 victory over Jordan in their final preparation match will be useful against Uzbekistan, a team with a similar organized system. Ditta emphasized the importance of recovering possession near the opponent's goal and excelling in set pieces, noting the team has "very decisive players and kickers with a lot of experience and hierarchy."

Juan Camilo Portilla, 27, admitted to feeling some anxiety ahead of his World Cup debut. "There will always be a bit of anxiety; I think that anxiety is important to stay alert before such an important debut," said the midfielder from Brazil's Athletico Paranaense. Portilla highlighted the value of experienced teammates like goalkeeper David Ospina and midfielder James Rodríguez, veterans of the 2014 and 2018 World Cups. "They have had the opportunity to play in many World Cups; they are important for us, giving us a lot of advice for those of us who will have the chance to debut in a World Cup," he commented. Regarding the match against Uzbekistan, Portilla cautioned about their fast transitions and the threat posed by wing-backs Khozhiakbar Alizhonov and Sherzod Nasrullaev.