Key facts
- Colombia's national football team has arrived in Guadalajara, Mexico, to begin World Cup preparations.
- The team held its first training session on June 11, 2026.
- Colombia's first match is against Uzbekistan on June 17, 2026, in Mexico City.
- Their second match is scheduled for June 23, 2026, against Congo in Guadalajara.
- Colombia's final group stage match will be against Portugal on June 27, 2026, in Miami.
Colombia's national football team has arrived in Guadalajara, Mexico, to commence its preparations for the upcoming World Cup. The team landed on the evening of June 10, 2026, and conducted their first training session the following day, which was open to media and local residents.
Ranked 14th by FIFA, Colombia began their World Cup training on home soil before a stint in California. Guadalajara and Mexico City present altitude challenges for the players. The team's World Cup journey includes matches against Uzbekistan on June 17 in Mexico City, followed by a game against Congo on June 23 in Guadalajara. Their final group stage match is scheduled for June 27 in Miami against Portugal.
Colombia's best World Cup performance was reaching the quarterfinals in 2014. They were eliminated in the round of 16 in 2018 and did not qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Player James Rodríguez expressed the team's ambition, stating, "This group has many dreams and desires, also a lot of quality, and why not dream of a great final, which is what we want."