Juan Quintero (C) of Colombia celebrates a goal this Thursday, during a match for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers between Colombia and Bolivia at the Metropolitan Stadium in Barranquilla (Colombia).
Photo: EFE – Mauricio Dueñas Castañeda
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Colombia is in the 2026 World Cup! The tricolor sealed its classification with a blunt 3-0 over Bolivia On the penultimate day of the South American Qualifiers.
With this triumph, the Colombian team returns to a World Cup after its last participation in Russia 2018after the frustration of not having classified in a cuar 2022.
James Rodríguez's goal
In the first half, after several clear arrivals in front of a Bolivia that planted resistance, Colombia opened the scoring with a goal from its captain, James Rodríguezat minute 30.
After precise triangulation with Luis Díaz and Santiago Arias, the '10' defined first to put the tricolor advantage.
With that score, James reached 14 goals in qualifierssurpassing Radamel Falcao as the highest historical gunner of Colombia in the competition.
Quintero changed the game and Barranquilla celebrated with Dayro Moreno
In the second half, the game became locked and the tricolor looked inaccurate. Everything changed with the entry of Juan Fernando Quinterowho at minute 74 leaked a masterful pass to Jhon Córdobain charge of breaking the arch to Carlos Lampe with a lethal right.
Bolivia lowered her arms and the party unleashed. At minute 82 entered Dayro Morenoand a minute later, Quintero and Luis Díaz put together a great play that ended in the Third goalwork of the '10' of River Plate.
In the final moments, the fans sang the “Olé” and The Metropolitan of Barranquilla became a carnival.
Con 25 pointsColombia climbed to the fifth place in the table and broke a streak of six games without victories.
With the classification in the pocket, The tricolor will close the tie next Tuesday at 6:30 pm in Maturín against Venezuelathat still dreams of reaching the repechage.
This was the table of the qualifiers after the classification of Colombia
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