Why Colombia Was Knocked Out of the 2026 World Cup
Déjà vu. Colombia was knocked out of the World Cup by Switzerland on penalties, exactly as it happened eight years ago in Russia 2018 against England. Lorenzo’s side failed to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, as they could not find a way to break down the Swiss deadlock and were ultimately defeated on penalties by a Swiss team that deserved to go through.
It was a very tough game for Colombia. The national team never looked in control of the game or like the best team on the field, as many of its key players seemed to be playing the game at a different speed than the Swiss. Star men James Rodriguez and Luis Diaz had a very poor game, as neither was truly capable of generating a moment of brilliance for Colombia.
The Swiss brought physicality to the match that prevented Colombia from playing with the rhythm they had found in previous games, as the clear chances of the game, which were few, came from forced errors that Colombia generated from pressuring the Swiss defense. The problem is that the team lacked the physicality to sustain that pressure throughout the game.
The reasons behind Colombia’s World Cup exit
Colombia exits the World Cup in the round of 16 for the second time running, and it doesn’t seem like the national team will break the ceiling of the now sixth match any time soon if it keeps relying on the ‘old guard’. Before the tournament, there was a lot of criticism in both national media and social media over some of the call-ups for this tournament. The main contention points were team Captain James Rodriguez and winger Jaminton Campaz.
Critics seem to be validated as both players did not have a good tournament. James, who had always been a guarantee when wearing the yellow shirt, failed to show up at the 2026 World Cup, which was fairly predictable due to the fact that he did not have a team for close to five months.
The Colombian captain looked sluggish and slow. Lorenzo, like millions of Colombians, put his faith in the #10. It proved to be misplaced. Football has changed, and without the correct preparation, it is almost impossible to perform at the level a World Cup requires.
Besides the goal against Uzbekistan at the Azteca, Campaz did not have a good tournament. The player from Argentina’s Rosario Central came on in the second half and looked out of depth as he squandered a chance that could have put Colombia in the quarters by shooting the ball over the goal. Other players like Richard Rios, Jefferson Lerma, Luis Suarez, and Jhon Cordoba also severely underperformed in the North American tournament.
Winning without a number 9 is impossible
Colombia brought three number 9s to the World Cup: Luis Suarez, Jhon Cordoba and Juan Camilo Hernandez. They failed to record a single goal in the entire tournament. An old football saying says that a team is as good as its goalkeeper and its striker. Colombia’s strikers did not look equipped to lead a team that could reach the final rounds of a tournament as demanding as this one.
Today, Suarez looked more concerned about struggling and playing a physical game against the Swiss centerbacks than playing football. Hernandez came on in the 82nd minute and recorded a single shot on target, and won half of his duels. He also had his penalty saved by Kobel. Cordoba was not available for selection as he had injured his hamstring in the game against Ghana.
Many fans will wonder what could have been if Jhon Duran had made better decisions for his career. Less than two years ago, he had posted fantastic performances for Premier League club Aston Villa, and was tipped to lead the line at this World Cup alongside Luis Diaz. But a mix of personal issues and poor career choices ultimately made it impossible for him to be part of the World Cup squad. At only 22 years old, one can only hope he turns it around and leads Colombia’s line in future tournaments. The raw talent is there, but will he want to?
Camilo Vargas was also underwhelming for Colombia during the 2026 World Cup. After conceding a blunder during the Uzbekistan game, he did not concede, but Colombia was still knocked out of the tournament. During the penalty shootout, he was close to saving Xhaka’s penalty, but the kick was far too strong for him to keep out with just one hand. He did not save the team when it needed it most.
Why does Colombia keep losing in penalties?
While it’s true that Colombia did not have a good game in the World Cup round of 16, Switzerland was not brilliant either. It is also part of the sting, as it feels like they were able to topple Colombia without needing to be at their very best. Switzerland did test Colombia’s Camilo Vargas during the game, but it never dominated the game. It was mostly contested in midfield, and when Lorenzo took out Arias, Colombia lost one of its best and most important players in that area of the field.
The game deserved to go to penalties, as neither side was truly better than the other on the field. Once it went to penalties, though, almost every Colombian in the world felt that we were at a disadvantage, as it had been the cause of previous heartbreak one too many times.
Davinson Sanchez, who was arguably Colombia’s best player through the tournament, hit the bar and missed. Despite Akanji missing his penalty, Colombia failed to capitalize by putting itself ahead once again, as Hernandez missed immediately after Akanji.
Once again, it feels like Colombia came close to greatness, but the weight of the moment was too much for the players. It is difficult to say if it came down to the overwhelming nature of the moment or if it came down to tiredness. The fact is, Colombia failed to assert itself at the moment of truth. Football is a state of emotion, and Colombia never looked determined to take the game by the scruff and seal it. Perhaps these players are simply not built for important moments. Perhaps it’s a mix of bad luck and crumbling under pressure, or perhaps its a structural issue. Whatever the explanation is, the truth is there is no easy fix.
Time for a change
This was likely the last tournament for many of the team’s heavyweights. At 34, James Rodriguez might have very well played his last game for the national team. Rodriguez, who currently does not have a team to go back to after the World Cup, looks unlikely to earn a new call-up. Other players like Jhon Cordoba, Santiago Arias, and David Ospina are also unlikely to return to the national team due to their age.
There are other players in the squad who also look like their time wearing the famous yellow shirt is over. Juan Portilla, Kevin Catsaño, Yerry Mina, Jorge Carrascal, Carlos Gomez, and Jaminton Campaz could also lose their spot in the national team, as neither was truly differential for Colombia during the tournament, and many have underperformed in their clubs prior to the World Cup.
At this time, it is difficult to say what the future of the Colombian national team looks like. Luis Diaz, who had a poor World Cup, is already 29. Other key figures in the starting IX, like Lerma, Davinson Sánchez, Jhon Mojica and Daniel Muñoz, are also in their 30s, while at 37, this was definitely Camilo Vargas’s last World Cup. Juan Fernando Quintero, who was, with Jhon Arias and Gustavo Puerta, Colombia’s best player in the tournament, is also 33, and while his talent looks intact, it is highly unlikely he will feature for the national team at another World Cup.
The good news is that Gustavo Puerta, who is only 22, seems like a real talent. The bad news is that almost no other player from his generation seems to be at the highest level, at least not yet. But it’s not only a generational change that is needed for Colombia to truly do something important at the highest level. It is also a mindset one, and that does not necessarily start on a football pitch. For now, Colombian fans will continue to enjoy the World Cup without their team in it, as Argentina is the only South American country that remains in the competition.