Colombian striker Luis Suarez celebrates his fifth goal during the South American Classification match for the FIFA 2026 World Cup between Venezuela and Colombia at the Maturín Monumental Stadium, in Maturín, Venezuela, on September 9, 2025.
Photo: AFP – Juan Barreto
Summary and Fast Informame
Listen to this article
Audio generated with Google
31 years ago, the Colombian team arrived at the United States World Cup with the favorite sheet to the title. The 5-0 to Argentina, the cataract of friendly won before the orbital event, the style of play that the coach Francisco Maturana printed to that team and the projection of Pelé, who said that the team commanded by the “El Pibe” Valderrama would be the champion, fed the illusion.
Three decades passed. Colombia will play a World Cup again on American soil, the same floor that served as harvest and condemnation of a dream that was ruined by divine and human factors.
There will be no projections of King Pelé anymore, there will be no honeys of the ignorance of a world to which the players of that time were not accustomed, those of today will arrive with the suitcases loaded with experiences that although it allows them to dream, they have well -set feet.
“In football we live on results, the 94 team had given us some results that made us think and believe that we had power,” he recalls on the expectation of 94 the journalist Hernán Peláez.
“We were fired by the Colombian people with great enthusiasm thinking that we were going to be world champions. When the elimination was given we were orphaned,” says Oscar Córdoba, the goalkeeper of that tricolor.
“Beyond international recognition, but I never listened to a leader or coaching staff to talk about favoritism,” recalls Pacho Maturana.
This return is part of a unique campaign, which brings together historical referents and emblematic voices of our football to remember that, when it comes to football, Colombia is a great family. Legends such as: Mario Yepes, Francisco Maturana, Faryd Mondragón and Óscar Córdoba, along with the referent of the Daniela Montoya women's team, add to the emotion of this moment with journalists such as Hernán Peláez, Nicolás Samper and Javier Fernández. They all represent different generations, but united under the same flag: the celebration of the FIFA 26 World Cup.
“Expectations are the worst enemy of consciousness,” says Nicolás Samper.
With the concept “Let's go back to the FIFA 26 ™ World Cup in Family,” Buchanan's invites Colombians to celebrate beyond 90 minutes, reconnecting with the essence of what football means living together: Share, hug, sing and get excited with those we choose as a family.
During the previous months already throughout the tournament, Buchanan's will display experiences in the main cities of the country to take the party to the streets, to the houses and those places where the passion for football becomes a common language. It will be a space to relive memories of past glories, but also to create new memories around the largest football party in history: the FIFA 26 ™ World Cup. We return to North America: the same dream, another moment.
“In Buchanan's we believe that the family is much more than blood ties: they are the people with whom we share our joys, our triumphs and also our defeats. Today we want to celebrate that, after eight years, Colombia returns to this sports event and we will do it as we know: as a family,” said Erick Strauss, Marketing and Innovation Director of Diageo Colombia.
This alliance seeks to be a cultural meeting point, where football becomes the perfect excuse to provide together, laugh together and feel part of the same family called Colombia. Because if something unites us beyond colors and names, it is that certainty that the best moments of life are always celebrated together.
Buchanan's a brand that believes in the real connections and force of the chosen families, announces its arrival as the official promoter of the FIFA 26 ™ World Cup, in a gesture that seeks to unite the country around the passion that identifies us most: football.
