The Habs return to a World Cup after eight years of absence. Those led by Néstor Lorenzo will be immersed in Group K, a sector led by Cristiano Ronaldo and Vitinha’s Portugal; debutant Uzbekistan and a team that will emerge from the international qualifiers taking place in March between New Caledonia, Jamaica and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Following the group draw, the Colombian team’s venues and schedules were confirmed by FIFA as follows:
Colombia – Uzbekistan: June 17 in Mexico
Colombia will make its World Cup debut on June 17, six days after the tournament opens, at the legendary Azteca stadium in Mexico City against Uzbekistan, ranked 50th in the FIFA rankings. The match will start at 9:00 p.m. Colombian time and, on paper, it is an accessible duel to score the first three points.
Colombia – Intercontinental Repechage: June 23 in Guadalajara
The Habs will return to the stage on June 23 in Guadalajara (Mexico), this time to face a rival to be confirmed, who will emerge from the intercontinental qualifiers which will be played in New Caledonia, Jamaica or the Democratic Republic of Congo. The duel will begin at 9:00 p.m. in Colombia and represents an invaluable opportunity for the team led by James Rodríguez to secure its ranking before facing Portugal, a feasible scenario if the team wins its first two matches of the tournament.
Colombia – Portugal: June 27 in Miami, Florida
The team led by Lorenzo closes the group stage on June 27 at 6:30 p.m. in Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in one of the most attractive duels left by the draw, against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. This is a clash between two powers who, in all likelihood, could decide who goes to the top of the group and, therefore, the path they take in the knockout stages.
Colombia’s path to the World Cup
If the team advances beyond the group stage, it will face two scenarios, depending on the position in which it finished in the sector: the leader of the group will travel to Kansas City, in the central United States, to play the round of 16 against the best third place in group D, E, I, J or L on July 3; while the second place in the group will travel to Toronto, Canada to face the second place in Group L (consisting of England, Croatia, Ghana or Panama) for a place in the round of 16.