Argentine coach Néstor Lorenzo starts a new cycle with the Colombian national team after his renewal with the Colombian Football Federation (FCF). Almost a month after announcing the new squad list, the coach faces criticism for the team's elimination in the 2026 World Cup round of 16. The decision to exclude James Rodríguez from the squad for matches against Mexico, Peru, and Paraguay sparked rumors of his dismissal. Sports journalist Carlos Antonio Vélez revealed that a change in the promotional poster for the friendly against Peru confirmed the player's exclusion.
Reaction of sports journalist Carlos Antonio Vélez
Vélez highlighted the change in the promotional ad for the friendly against Peru, where James Rodríguez's image was replaced by Gustavo Puerta, a revelation from the World Cup. 'Two promotional ads for the same match with different player photos. The first included James, and in the second ad, he was dismissed,' said the communicator on social media. This decision reflects Lorenzo's intention to modernize the squad and prioritize young players.
Dates of the friendly matches in the United States
The Colombian national team will play three friendly matches between September 21 and October 6, 2026. The first match will be against Mexico on September 26 at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. On October 2, the team will face Paraguay at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey, and on October 6, they will close the campaign against Peru at the new Inter Miami stadium.
