What Does Colombia Need to Do to Regain Form After the 2026 World Cup Squad Renovation?
Colombia's post-2026 World Cup era has gotten off to a difficult start, with Néstor Lorenzo using the latest international window to experiment with a squad that looks noticeably different from the one that competed at the tournament. The first two matches have produced mixed results. Colombia drew 1-1 with Mexico on September 26th before losing 1-0 to Paraguay on October 2nd. With one more friendly against Peru remaining, Lorenzo has another opportunity to determine which of his new faces are ready to become regular contributors. The biggest issue so far has been the lack of cohesion in midfield and attack.
Against Mexico, Colombia struggled to consistently create dangerous combinations, while the Paraguay match produced even fewer attacking opportunities. Many Colombian fans and analysts described the team as lacking footballing ideas, with Yáser Asprilla and Jhon Arias unable to create attacking connections consistently and Luis Javier Suárez left isolated up front. That lack of fluidity is understandable to some degree. Colombia is entering a new cycle without James Rodríguez, who recently announced his retirement from international football after 15 years with the national team. Luis Díaz was also absent from this international window, leaving Colombia without two of the players who previously carried much of the creative responsibility.
The purpose of these friendlies, however, is to find out who can take over those responsibilities. Several players getting their first opportunities with the senior team haven't yet received enough minutes for a definitive judgment. Camilo Durán is perhaps the clearest example. The Celtic forward was called up for the first time but remained on the bench against Mexico before making his international debut late against Paraguay. He entered in the 88th minute, giving him only a handful of minutes to show what he can contribute. Matías Orozco, Daniel Arcila, Royer Caicedo, Kevin Andrade, Édier Ocampo and Samuel Velásquez are among the other players being introduced or evaluated during this transition.
That is why the upcoming match against Peru is important. Colombia's final game of the international window gives Lorenzo another chance to rotate the squad and give meaningful minutes to players who haven't had enough time to establish themselves. The result will matter, but understanding which combinations work could matter even more. Lorenzo doesn't necessarily need to settle on definitive starters immediately. What Colombia does need is a clearer idea of its preferred midfield and attacking structure. The team cannot spend an entire cycle experimenting without developing a reliable identity.
The next World Cup may still be years away, but the road toward it will eventually include competitive qualifying matches. The team also has the 2028 Copa America to compete in, another test for the Colombian national team. Colombia needs to use these friendlies to identify the players capable of replacing the production lost with James' retirement and the eventual transition away from other veterans. The rebuild is only beginning, and two matches are not enough to determine whether it will succeed. But the warning signs are already there. Colombia needs to find its winning formula sooner rather than later. The longer the team struggles to build chemistry in midfield and attack, the harder it could become when matches start carrying points and qualification consequences.
