Colombia soccer is ranked No. 16 in the world by FIFA as of June 2018. “Los Cafeteros” play from Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Colombia.
We have a friendly rivalry with Argentina and a not-so-friendly one with Brazil. We like to tease Argentina about their 5-0 defeat at the 1994 World Cup qualifier in their home stadium. If you see an Argentine, hold up the five fingers of your hand and smile.
Colombia Soccer Championships
Our best showing at the World Cup was reaching the quarterfinals at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Copa América
2001 champions
Colombia World Cup 2018
The World Cup 2018 is June 14 – July 15, 2018.
Colombia World Cup 2018 Team
Coach José Pékerman is from Argentina. He has coached Colombia since 2012. Before that he coached the Argentine national team.
Our star players are “El Tigre” Radamel Falcao and James Rodríguez. By the way, “James” is pronounced “Ha-mess.”
We have been playing a modern standard 4-2-3-1 formation.
Starters in the World Cup 2018 Round of 16 game against England on July 3, 2018 are bold.
Keeper
- David Ospina (#1) plays for Arsenal in England
- Camilo Vargas (#12) plays for Atlético National in Colombia
- José Cuadrado (#22) plays for Once Caldas in Colombia
Defenders
- Cristian Zapata (#2) plays for PSV Eindhoven in The Netherlands
- Óscar Murillo (#4) plays for Pachuca in Mexico
- Santiago Arias (#4) plays for PSV Eindhoven in The Netherlands
- Yerry Mina (#13) plays for Barcelona in Spain
- Johan Mojica (#17) plays for Girona in Spain
- Farid Díaz (#18) plays for Olimpia Asunción in Paraguay
- Davinson Sánchez (#23) plays for Tottenham Hotspur in England. Sánchez is one of Colombia’s young talents.
Midfielders
- Wilmar Barrios (#5) plays for Boca Juniors in Argentina
- Carlos Sánchez (#6) plays for Espanyol in Spain
- Abel Aguilar (#8) plays for Deportivo Cali in Colombia
- Mateus Uribe (#15) plays for Club América in Mexico
- Jefferson Lerma (#16) plays for Levante in Spain
- José Izquierdo (#21) plays for Brighton & Hove Albion in England
Forwards
- Carlos Bacca (#7) plays for Milan in Italy
- Radamel Falcao (#9) plays for Monaco in French Ligue 1. He usually plays as a striker and is Colombia’s main scorer.
- James Rodríguez (#10) plays for Bayern München in Germany, on loan from Real Madrid in Spain. He usually plays midfield and feeds Falcao. James is his own scoring threat. It’s pronounced “Ha-mess”
- Juan Cuadrado (#11) plays for Juventus in Italy.
- Luis Muriel (#14) plays for Sevilla in Spain
- Miguel Borja (#19) plays for Palmieras in Brazil
- Juan Quintero (#20) plays for Porto in Portugal.
Colombia World Cup 2018 Group Stage
Colombia 1 – 2 Japan
FIFA Rank: #16 vs #61
Tuesday, June 19 at 8 am ET
A red card at 3 minutes for a handball by left midfielder Carlos Sánchez’ (#6), set the tone for the game when Japan scored on the penalty. With 10 men, Forward Quintero (#20) evened at 39 minutes, but Japan put another in the net at 73 minutes and Colombia was just defeated.
Poland 0 – 3 Colombia
FIFA Rank: #8 vs #16
Kazan Arena in Kazan, Russia
Sunday, June 24 at 2 pm ET
Colombia got its footing with goals by Mina, Falcao and Cuadrado.
Senegal 0 – 1 Colombia
FIFA Rank: #27 vs #16
Samara Arena in Samara, Russia
Thursday, June 28 at 10 am ET
Mina headed a corner kick at 74 minutes to win the Group and put Colombia through to the Round of 16!
James had to leave injured. We hope he is okay.
Colombia World Cup 2018 Round of 16
Colombia plays England in the World Cup 2018 Round of 16 on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at 2 pm ET.
Colombia filled the stadium. James did not suit up. The game got a bit rough as the American referee M. Geiger lost control of things. Things went badly when Harry Kane scored on a penalty in the 57th minute. Mina made the equalizer in stoppage time. 30 minutes of extra time weren’t enough.
In the penalty shootout, England’s Henderson missed the third shot. But then Colombia’s Uribe and Bacca missed so it was over.
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