After the Elimination From the 2026 World Cup, What’s Next for Colombia?
After the World Cup elimination against Switzerland, Colombia’s greatest striker ever analyzed the defeat for the channel he covered the World Cup for. Radamel Falcao Garcia did not hold back any punches, as he criticized the Colombian league, how TV rights are distributed, and the development (or lack thereof) of players in the country. Falcao is an authorized voice to speak on the subject, as he is arguably the greatest Colombian football player of all time, and someone the national team has not been able to replace.
Falcao was not developed in Colombia. He was developed in Argentina, by River Plate. He studied there and made his debut in the Argentine team. That’s where he learned how to compete, how to approach pressure, and what mindset to adopt. All of these things gave him the platform to eventually become the best striker in the world.
Colombia must now focus on what comes next. A new Copa America is right around the corner, and the aim for the 2030 World Cup should be to have a better tournament than the national team had this summer. So after the elimination, what comes next in practice?
Colombia’s base for the 2030 World Cup should be built by clubs
As a country, Colombia has never had an issue producing talented football players. The issue has become that talent alone is not enough, and has not been enough for a while. That is why, in his editorial note, Radamel Falcao called for further professionalization of Colombian football, mainly through the introduction of a third division and a stronger focus on player development.
Things do seem to be changing. There are two players from Colombia’s successful U-17 squad who are already bound to the biggest clubs in England. Samuel Martinez, the U-17’s number 10, has already been sold by Atletico Nacional to Liverpool, while Cristian Orozco, the captain of that team, is also Manchester United-bound.
This is important for several reasons. First, it shows Colombian clubs are prepared to export directly to Europe, which means there has been a shift in how major clubs are preparing their youth players. It also shows, however, that other major clubs should follow suit in investing in their youth rather than expensive old signings.
Colombian clubs, like most clubs in the world, are run like businesses, which means in many cases they have to be self-sustaining. This also means, in many cases, stakeholders in the clubs are more concerned about the generation of revenue than winning. This is why clubs prefer to invest in signings such as Radamel Falcao or Juan Fernando Quintero.
Millonarios and America signed both of them, respectively, and despite their quality, they both ultimately failed, as they did not have a good performance on the field for either club. These are expensive and commercial signings. They put people in the seats of stadiums, but they do not achieve success on the field.
Colombia’s team in 2030
The base of Colombia’s team for the 2030 World Cup should be built around the successful U-17 and U-20 teams. Players that are tipped to be the spine of the new team include: Neiser Villareal from Cruzeiro; Jordan Barrera from Botafogo; Jhon Solis from Birmingham; Carlos Gomez, who was on this World Cup roster; Gustavo Puerta; and Atletico Nacional’s Andres Rengifo, who looks likely to switch clubs soon.
All of these players have been part of successful youth cycles and will look to continue to develop, as well as settle their careers, so that they can arrive at the 2030 World Cup at the peak of their powers.
It is also worth noting that already established young footballers also have a shot at redemption. Players such as Jhon Jader Duran and Yasser Asprilla could also be key for the national team in the coming years, if they sort out their sporting careers, which so far have not done justice to their talent.
Luis Diaz will also have a shot at redemption. At 29, he will likely be past his peak by the time the next World Cup comes around, but the best players are those who stay in elite shape for sustained periods. Diaz will be tipped to be the national team captain by the time the next World Cup comes around, and will have to rise up to the occasion.