The Colombian team has intensified its preparation for the 2026 World Cup with a series of strategic visits to Mexican cities in search of the best place to concentrate and train.
In recent days, Colombian football federation executives have conducted scouting activities in Guadalajara and held important meetings in Puebla, two of the cities vying to host international teams during the next World Cup, which will begin in June 2026.
According to David Medrano in his column In the spotlightRepresentatives from the Colombian team and delegates from South Korea recently arrived in Guadalajara to review hotel options and training locations.
The aim of these visits is to ensure optimal facilities for the camp before and during the tournament.
Medrano explains that the Korean delegation is considering a stay of fifteen to sixteen days in the capital Jalisco, while the Colombian delegation is also exploring alternatives in the region, with no final decision on the location of the headquarters so far.
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On his part Half time reports that the Puebla state government has launched an intensive campaign to attract teams such as Colombia, South Africa, South Korea and Uzbekistan.
The state authorities, led by Carla López Malo, head of the Ministry of Tourism, and Isidro Sánchez of the Sports University, have held dialogue tables with coaches and managers of these teams, as well as with officials from FIFA and the Mexican Football Federation. The aim is to position Puebla and the Cuauhtémoc Stadium as a concentration and training base during the World Cup..
The Puebla delegation highlighted to the international representatives the recent renovation of the Cuauhtémoc Stadium, which now meets FIFA standards after replacing the pitch, optimizing the drainage system and adapting the support areas for athletes and technical teams. In addition, they appreciated the city’s hotel and service capacity as well as its proximity to Mexico City, which represents a logistical advantage for the participating teams. Isidro Sánchez emphasized that the closest meetings after the group draw were with Uzbekistan, Colombia, South Korea and South Africa, which showed greater interest in setting up their camp in Puebla.
As for the Colombia national team’s calendar, the team will play its first group stage match on June 17 against Uzbekistan at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Later, on June 23rd, they will face the winner of the intercontinental playoffs at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara and conclude the group stage against Portugal on June 27th at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. This distribution of games highlights the importance of choosing a concentration location that facilitates the team’s travel and logistics activities during the tournament.
Competition between Mexican cities for the attention of international teams has intensified as the World Cup approaches. Half time points out that both Guadalajara and Puebla want to position themselves as preferred destinations for teams such as Colombia, South Korea, South Africa and Uzbekistan. Local authorities have implemented promotional strategies, highlighting their advantages in terms of infrastructure, services and location, in a context where the decision of each selection can have a significant impact on international presence and the local economy.
- June 17: Portugal vs. Intercontinental Repechage (Democratic Republic of Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia) – Houston – 12:00 p.m
- June 17: Uzbekistan vs. Colombia – Mexico City (Azteca Stadium) – 9:00 p.m
- June 23: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan – Houston – 12:00 p.m
- June 23: Colombia vs. Intercontinental Repechage (Democratic Republic of Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia) – Guadalajara (Akron Stadium) – 9:00 p.m
- June 27: Colombia vs. Portugal – Miami (Hard Rock Stadium) – 6:30 p.m
- June 27: Intercontinental Repechage (Democratic Republic of Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia) vs. Uzbekistan – 6:30 p.m
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