Matchday 17 of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will likely be performed this Thursday. A number of groups could have the prospect to formally e-book their place in subsequent 12 months’s event in america, Mexico, and Canada—together with Colombia. James Rodriguez’s squad will purpose to take a significant step towards Bolivia.
The Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez in Barranquilla will host the conflict between Colombia and Bolivia—two sides nonetheless preventing to qualify for the following World Cup, setting the stage for a high-stakes matchup.
In the mean time, Colombia are in a direct qualification spot, however that would shortly change in the event that they slip up. Nestor Lorenzo’s workforce sits sixth within the standings—the ultimate automated qualifying place—with 22 factors.
Trailing simply behind are Venezuela with 18 factors. They maintain seventh place, which ends up in an intercontinental playoff for a ultimate World Cup spot. Bolivia, in the meantime, are presently exterior of rivalry with 17 factors however sit only one level behind Venezuela.
Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo.
What does Colombia have to qualify for the World Cup?
With a four-point cushion over their closest challengers—Venezuela—and solely six factors left in play, Colombia can clinch a spot within the 2026 FIFA World Cup this Thursday with a house win over Bolivia.
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A victory would take Lorenzo’s squad to 25 factors and out of attain of Venezuela, rendering their ultimate qualifier—satirically towards Venezuela—successfully meaningless for Colombia.
There’s additionally a second path to qualification: merely matching or bettering Venezuela’s outcome towards Argentina. Given the present four-point hole within the standings, Venezuela should shut the hole by a minimum of one level on Matchday 17. In the event that they don’t, they’ll now not catch Colombia.
Colombia should seal qualification on Thursday
Whereas Colombia are in a good place to qualify, needing simply 3 of the remaining 6 factors to manage their very own destiny, the workforce nonetheless faces actual strain—beginning with the necessity to enhance their type. Colombia are winless of their final six qualifiers, with three losses and three attracts.
And that’s not all. Whereas on paper they’ve the better task—internet hosting Bolivia whereas Venezuela face powerhouse Argentina on the highway—the strain might mount in the event that they fail to lock issues up on Thursday.
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If outcomes don’t go their method and Colombia don’t clinch this week, every part will come all the way down to Matchday 18 subsequent Tuesday. That may set the stage for a a lot harder state of affairs: a direct showdown in Maturin, away towards Venezuela, with a World Cup ticket on the road.
What number of World Cups has James Rodriguez performed in?
At 34 years previous, James Rodriguez stays Colombia’s greatest star—even forward of Luis Diaz. The previous Actual Madrid midfielder is nearly definitely his final shot to play in one other World Cup, as he’ll be 39 by the point the 2030 version rolls round.
Rodriguez has a major historical past with the event. He burst onto the worldwide stage at Brazil 2014, the place he led Colombia on a historic run to the quarterfinals—falling to the hosts—and received the Golden Boot with 5 objectives, incomes a spot within the event’s Finest XI.
His second—and to this point, final—World Cup expertise got here at Russia 2018. There, each his and the workforce’s performances had been far much less memorable. He noticed restricted minutes in the course of the group stage, registering two assists, however an harm saved him out of the Spherical of 16 match towards England, the place Colombia had been eradicated on penalties.
