Of the 12 nations to have lifted the FIFA U-20 World Cup™ title, three hail from South America: Argentina (six titles), Brazil (five) and Uruguay, who won the most recent edition in 2023. Now Colombia fans are hoping it might finally be their turn to lift the coveted crown.
La Tricolor secured qualification for the 2025 edition – which will be held in Chile from 27 September to 19 October – by finishing third in the final six-team group stage of the CONMEBOL South American U-20 Championship, after topping Group B in the opening round. They recorded three wins (over Bolivia, Brazil and Ecuador) and a draw (against Argentina) in the first stage, before registering a further three triumphs (over Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay) and falling to two defeats (to Argentina and Brazil) in the final stage.
One thing that they are not short on is firepower: Neiser Villarreal, who plies his trade for Colombian capital club Millonarios, claimed the top scorer award at the South American U-20 Championship with eight goals, two more than Argentina’s Claudio Echeverri and at least six more than any of his compatriots.
Colombia’s Group F fixtures
29 September
Colombia-Saudi Arabia (20:00 local time, Estadio Fiscal)
2 October
Colombia-Norway (17:00 local time, Estadio Fiscal)
5 October
Nigeria-Colombia (20:00 local time, Estadio Fiscal)
The coach: Cesar Torres
Cesar Torres Ramirez took over the reins of Colombia’s U-20 side in May 2024, having arrived from Alianza FC in Colombia’s first division to replace Hector Cardenas. Torres had previously played in the lower echelons of the Colombian club game, but it was as a coach that he gained prominence, building on his studies in professional sport.
The Cali-born coach steered Colombia to a bronze medal at this year’s South American U-20 Championship, replicating the feat of the 2023 side. He benefits from a close working relationship with Colombia’s senior national team coach, Nestor Lorenzo, helping to fast-track the country’s most promising talent.
Torres himself has lauded the exceptional prospects at his disposal: “Colombia has talent. We have regained the respect of the footballing world and always look to take the game to the opposition. We never feel intimidated [by Argentina and Brazil]. We set ourselves up to compete and win.”
Star player: Neiser Villarreal
At just 20 years of age, Neiser Villarreal Quinones is a graduate of the Millonarios academy and signed professional terms with the club in 2023. He topped the goalscoring charts at this year’s South American U-20 Championship with eight goals and four assists in nine outings, including a hat-trick against Paraguay and decisive strikes against Brazil and Uruguay.
By securing the tournament’s Golden Boot, he ended a 20-year wait for a Colombian to take home that accolade – Hugo Rodallega the last of his countrymen to do so in 2005. His numbers have attracted attention from European heavyweights Barcelona and Chelsea, as well as a host of Brazilian powerhouses such as Vasco da Gama.
Sometimes referred to as “Neyser” in tribute to Neymar – one of his footballing icons – the breakout performer even mimics the goal celebrations of Santos’s No10. The Tumaco-born star is also a keen admirer of former Colombia striker Radamel Falcao, who has already told him “to seize these opportunities.”
One to watch: Jordan Garcia
Goalkeeper Jordan Garcia, also 20, was one of the standout performers for Colombia at the South American U-20 Championship. From 2026, he is set to hone his craft with Mexican side Club Leon, alongside his compatriot and veteran attacking midfielder James Rodriguez.
Though he will be competing with Alexei Rojas and Andres Tovar for the starting spot between the posts, Garcia featured in most of his side’s contests at this year’s CONMEBOL youth competition and is regarded as something of a gem in Colombia.
