Colombia will return to the World Cup finals for the first time in eight years, set to begin their campaign on June 17, 2026, against Uzbekistan in Mexico City in Group K [1, 2]. The team qualified by finishing third in the South American qualifiers, scoring fewer goals only than Argentina, and recorded key wins over Brazil and Argentina during the campaign [1, 2].
Luis Diaz has been at the center of Colombia’s resurgence. He scored seven goals in the qualifiers, just one behind top scorer Lionel Messi [1, 2]. Diaz signed for Bayern Munich in July 2025 in a high-profile transfer worth an estimated 75 million euros ($86.95 million) [1, 2]. In his first season, he was directly involved in more than 40 goals for Bayern, helping them win the Bundesliga and reach the Champions League semifinals [1, 2]. Bayern manager Vincent Kompany praised Diaz as "a machine with a kind of chaotic creativity" [1].
The season leading into the World Cup was marked by a personal ordeal for Diaz. In late 2023, his parents were kidnapped by a local guerrilla group; his mother was released the same day while his father remained captive for 12 days, with the ELN calling the kidnapping a "mistake" [1, 2]. Diaz described it as "the most difficult moment of my life" [1]. Despite the crisis, he scored twice in Colombia’s home win over Brazil during that period [1, 2].
Argentina-born Nestor Lorenzo, 60, was appointed as Colombia’s head coach for his first international role [1, 2]. Veteran players like 34-year-old James Rodriguez and Sporting forward Luis Suarez are expected to support Diaz and add experience to the squad [1, 2]. Colombia recently finished runners-up to Argentina at the 2024 Copa America, cementing their status as regional contenders [1, 2].
Colombian legend Carlos Valderrama said Diaz has already surpassed his own achievements [1, 2]. Colombia’s next matches after Uzbekistan are against Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group K [1, 2]. The team will aim to build on their qualifying success and make a strong impression after their long absence from the world stage.