Everything You Need to Know About Colombia Before the 2026 World Cup

Everything You Need to Know About Colombia Before the 2026 World Cup

Darlings of the 2014 World Cup, when prime James Rodríguez was netting banger after banger en route to the quarter-finals, it hasn’t exactly been rich for Colombia on the World Cup stage since then.

Famously eliminated in the last 16 by England on penalties in 2018 – we still can’t believe that happened either – and failing to even make the tournament four years later, Los Cafeteros have seen their football pedigree fade somewhat over the last 12 years, with a heartbreaking loss in the 2024 Copa America final their only major achievement since their fabled run in Brazil.

James Rodríguez in 2014: Iconic 🇨🇴 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/FBblp6iCvY

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 6, 2026

However, 2026 could mark Colombia’s return to the forefront of international football, as this year, they bring with them some serious talent. Finishing a comfortable third in South American qualifying, they bring a raft of recognisable names and fan favourites, and under the tutelage of manager Nestor Lorenzo, who has had four years to get to grips with his team, Colombia could well be game for an upset or two this summer.

Who is Heading to North America?

The Colombia squad boasts a healthy mix of youthful exuberance and wide-ranging experience. James Rodriguez, David Ospina and Yerry Mina are all likely playing at their last World Cup, bringing with them vital experience of World Cup knockout football, while young guns Gustavo Puerta and Andres Gomes look set to receive a baptism of fire on the world stage.

The squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers

David Ospina Camilo Vargas Alvaro Montero

Defenders

Santiago Arias Jhon Lucumi Yerry Mina Willer Dita Davinson Sanchez Johan Mojica Daniel Munoz Deiver Machado

Midfielders

Richard Rios Gustavo Puerta Juan Portilla Jefferson Lerma Kevin Castano James Rodriguez

Attackers

Juan Quintero Jorge Carrascal Luis Diaz Jhon Arias Jaminton Campaz Jhon Cordoba Juan Hernandez

🚨🇨🇴 OFFICIAL: Colombia release their 2026 World Cup squad. pic.twitter.com/MRyyNeXrqP

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 25, 2026

Key Player to Watch

Luis Diaz

It was hard not to pick James Rodriguez here in all honesty, but Diaz’s club form for Bayern Munich simply couldn’t be ignored. 26 goals and 19 assists, becoming part of Europe’s best attacking trio in the process, is simply ridiculous form. Granted, he won’t be playing alongside Harry Kane and Michael Olise at the World Cup, but even if he brings half of the brilliance he showed with him, Colombia will be a side to contend with.

Mind you, Luis Suarez isn’t a bad front line partner – the Sporting Lisbon centre-forward took up the mantle left vacant by Viktor Gyokeres, brilliant in Portugal, scoring 38 times in all comps, and with Diaz’s quality of service out wide, the frontman should theoretically bag a hatful.

Colombia as a nation don’t have the strength in depth to go all the way and win the tournament, but the individual brilliance of Diaz has the ability to turn a game on its head, and if he can sprinkle his magic should Colombia get to the knockout stages, we could see a rinse and repeat of Colombia’s superb form of 2014

Unknown Quantity

Daniel Munoz

This may be a surprising choice, seeing as, to English football fans, Munoz is far from a little-known name, having lifted the FA Cup, Community Shield, and Europa Conference League in the last 12 months, all while being arguably Crystal Palace’s most reliable player up and down the right-hand side.

However, for Colombia, his quality at club level has not yet translated to the international scene. Though he has earned 46 caps for Colombia, his performances in the lead-up to the tournament have been unflattering to say the least – his average FotMob rating sits at a poor 6.43, and he failed to chip in with a single goal or assist during qualifying, which at Palace plays a huge part in his game.

Another Eagle heading to the World Cup 🌎

Good luck to Daniel Muñoz and Colombia at the 2026 World Cup 🇨🇴👏 pic.twitter.com/hRxB3El8Ic

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) June 3, 2026

Of course, some thrive when the pressure is at its most extreme, and Munoz has all the ability to become a player that turns it on on the World Cup stage. However, he certainly arrives in North America with something to prove – if his side is to go deep, then like Diaz, he needs to perform.

How to Watch Colombia’s Group Stage Games

Thu 18 June, 03:00 (BST): Uzbekistan vs Colombia, BBC and BBC iPlayer, Lumen Field, USA

Wed 24 June, 20:00 (BST): Colombia vs DR Congo, ITV and ITVX, SoFi Stadium, USA.

Sun 28 June, 04:00 (BST): Colombia vs Portugal, BBC and BBC iPlayer, BC Place Vancouver, Canada.

Colombia’s Possible Route to Final

Aside from the obvious obstacle of Portugal, Colombia has been handed a relatively easy route to the knockout stage. DR Congo does have the potential to cause a shock, but Colombia has superior quality and should emerge from the group in second place.

Should that happen, they will be pitted against the second-placed side from Group L, which in this case looks likely to be 2018 finalists Croatia – not an easy start. It only gets trickier, as if they reach the round of 16, Spain are their most likely opponents, the European champions being one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

Things could get easier should Colombia miraculously pull through that one, with either Turkey, the USA or Belgium awaiting them in the quarters before the semis would bring them back down to reality, with any one of Germany, France, the Netherlands or Morocco waiting to meet them to contest for a place in the final.

In reality, Colombia should get no further than the quarter-finals, but you never know. One upset, one different top-placed side than we predicted, and the draw can suddenly open up in their favour. That’s the beauty of the World Cup – you can never be 100% sure of any outcome. That’s why we love football.