Colombia was plunged into national mourning. La Tricolor began FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ qualifying with a thumping win Barranquilla. They hurtled through the tape with two impressive victories. Yet, somehow, they missed out on a first global finals since 2010.
“The most beautiful thing in my career was going to two World Cups and representing the shirt that I love the most: the yellow of my national team,” said James Rodriguez. “Today I am in deep pain. I don’t know if I’ll be back. What I do know is that failing to qualify breaks my soul. This cannot happen again.”
The failure was flagged as an unfitting finish to James’s international career and Colombia’s second golden generation – one that included David Ospina, Cristian Zapata, Juan Cuadrado, Radamel Falcao and their national GOAT. Yet James did return. And so, too, have Colombia to football’s biggest stage. Tonight, thanks to a 3-0 win over Bolivia, Nestor Lorenzo’s side reached the World Cup 26 with a game to spare.
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There’s several reasons to believe they can eclipse their finest campaign – they reached the quarter-finals in 2014 before a 2-1 loss to hosts Brazil – in North America. Firstly, in Luis Diaz, they have one of the finest performers on the planet. The winger scored 30 goals in his last two seasons at Liverpool, helping them win the 2024/25 Premier League.
He’s hit the ground running at Bayern Munich, registering two goals and two assists in his first two Bundesliga appearances. Diaz is also the second-leading marksman in South American qualifying for next year’s finals, one shy of Lionel Messi. At 28, he’s champing at the bit for his first World Cup.
Secondly, there’s the emergence of Richard Rios. Part enforcer, part inventor, he dazzled for Palmeiras at the first FIFA Club World Cup™ before becoming Benfica’s record signing. The 23-year-old’s start to life at the Estadio da Luz suggests he has the tools to illuminate the World Cup like previous men in mullets Chrissy Waddle, Roberto Baggio, Trifon Ivanov and Neymar did.
Jhon Arias also electrified at USA 2025, inspiring Fluminense, against seismic odds, into the semi-finals. His video-game-like dribbling and dartboard free-kicks are now at the disposal of Wolves. A short journey south-east, Daniel Munoz has emerged as one of the best wing-backs in Europe. The late-blooming 29-year-old registered 14 combined goals and assists in 2024/25, covered the second-most distance in the Premier League behind Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes, and performed heroically as Crystal Palace stunned Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Then there’s the emergence of Jhon Duran. Despite boasting elite performers such as Arnoldo Iguaran, Faustino Asprilla, Adolfo Valencia, Ivan Valenciano, Carlos Bacca and Radamel Falcao, no Colombian forward has registered more than two goals at a World Cup.
Duran is viewed as a doctor to this detriment. The 21-year-old impressed for Aston Villa, belting home the Premier League Goal of the Month for September 2024, before joining Al Nassr and upgrading his game alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Antioqueno, now on loan at Fenerbahce, surprisingly has a lot in common with his idol James – despite their age and positional differences. Both began their careers at unfashionable Colombian club Envigado, made history as mid-teens, starred in England and on the Arabian Peninsula, played alongside Cristiano, won wonder-goal awards and fantasize about conquering the World Cup.
James, despite turning 34 in July, still boasts one of the most enchanting left foots in the business. At the Copa America 2024, which was played in the USA, he registered six assists, stealing Lionel Messi’s tournament record for one edition. They helped Colombia top a group including Brazil, pummel Panama 5-0 in the quarter-finals, and overcame Uruguay in the semis to set up a final against Argentina, which they only lost thanks to Lautaro Martinez’s 112th-minute effort. James nevertheless collected the Best Player award ahead of the likes of Martinez, Messi, Federico Valverde and Vinicius Jr.
The loss at Hard Rock Stadium ended Colombia’s national-record run of 28 games unbeaten (22 wins and six draws). La Tricolor have also pulled off some admirable results in World Cup 26 qualifying. They rallied from behind to beat Brazil, Diaz the five-time world champions’ hangman, triumphed in Paraguay and are the only team to have taken four points from Argentina.
This may be a much-changed team from the one that finished Qatar 2022 qualifying, but this new generation is arguably more promising than the engrossing ones including Carlos Valderrama, Freddy Rincon, Asprilla and Valencia, and Rodriguez, Cuadrado and Falcao. With a ticket now stamped, the perennially-ambitious Colombians can now plot on assault on football’s most prestigious prize.
Colombia’s World Cup campaigns
1962: Group stage
1990: Last 16
1994: Group stage
1998: Group stage
2014: Quarter-finals
2018: Last 16
