Colombia walked in Texas and beat Mexico 4-0: this is how the game went

Luis Díaz celebrates with James Rodríguez.

Photo: EFE – Carlos Ramírez

Colombia showed authority in its first test heading to the 2026 World Cup and beat Mexico 4-0 at the AT&T Stadium in Texas. Néstor Lorenzo's team showed solidity, balance and efficiency in a friendly that served to measure the group's momentum after the playoffs. Jhon Lucumí opened the scoring with a header after a free kick by James Rodríguez, and from then on the Tricolor controlled the pace of the match, leaving no spaces and with a firm midfield that neutralized any attempt by the rival.

In the second half, Colombia expanded its dominance with a flurry of goals and high-level collective plays. Luis Díaz increased the lead with an exquisite finish after a pass from James, Jefferson Lerma scored a great volley goal to make it 3-0, and Johan Carbonero sealed the final 4-0 after a great assist from Juan Fernando Quintero. Mexico barely had a clear chance, crashing a ball into the post at the end. A convincing match for Lorenzo's team, which begins its World Cup preparation with confidence, good football and a demonstration of offensive power.

Minute by minute of Colombia vs. Mexico: how was the match?

⏱️ MINUTO 90′ | 🟡⚪ COL 4-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | The game is over in Arlington. The referee did not add replacement and ended the game on the last play, which was, coincidentally, the most dangerous for Mexico, when a ball hit the post.

⏱️ MINUTO 86′ | 🟡⚪ COL 4-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | The fourth fell, after a great pass from Juan Fernando Quintero and a masterful definition from Johan Carbonero. Great goal from Colombia, in a very quick transition.

⏱️ MINUTO 84′ | 🟡⚪ COL 3-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | Mexico finally arrived in the Colombian area with an offensive play. The shot, however, was very soft and controlled by David Ospina.

⏱️ MINUTO 80′ | 🟡⚪ COL 3-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | Colombia dominates the game with its large advantage and does not suffer the commitment against the Mexicans, who have not managed to disturb David Ospina's goal throughout the game.

⏱️ MINUTO 63′ | 🟡⚪ COL 3-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | The third from Colombia arrived. What a goal! Jefferson Lerma took advantage of a rebound to score an impressive volley. A bit incredible, which gives the Colombians the definitive advantage.

⏱️ MINUTO 59′ | 🟡⚪ COL 2-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | He almost scored Colombia's third with a long shot from Luis Suárez, but it went just wide.

⏱️ MINUTO 56′ | 🟡⚪ COL 2-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | GOLAAAAAAAAZZ from Colombia. Luis Díaz did it, taking advantage of an impressive pass from James Rodríguez. The guajiro was practically alone in front of the goalkeeper, whom he encompassed with a definition of hierarchy.

⏱️ MINUTO 46′ | 🟡⚪ COL 1-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | Good play by Colombia, with a pass from James and a shot from Lucho Díaz.

Mexico responded immediately with Pineda, but David Ospina responded very well and contained.

⏱️ MINUTO 45′ | 🟡⚪ COL 1-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | It's already being played again in Texas. Colombia beats Mexico by the minimum.

⏱️ MINUTO 45+5′ | 🟡⚪ COL 1-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | Colombia goes into halftime with a 1-0 lead over Mexico at the AT&T Stadium in Texas, thanks to a goal by Jhon Lucumí in the 15th minute, after a free kick taken by James Rodríguez and validated by the VAR.

Néstor Lorenzo's team, in its first friendly heading to the 2026 World Cup, showed order and control of the ball against an opponent with little offensive clarity. Mexico barely caused any concern with a deflected header from Santiago Jiménez, while the Tricolor managed the rhythms and was solid in defense, closing a convincing first half.

⏱️ MINUTO 45′ | 🟡⚪ COL 1-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | The first 45 minutes have already been completed and they added four replacement minutes. The game entered a slump. Colombia dominates the ball and does not suffer from the offensives of Mexico, which does not show much creativity.

⏱️ MINUTO 37′ | 🟡⚪ COL 1-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | Mexico had it, through Santiago Jiménez. The forward tried with a header, after a lateral foul, but the ball went wide. It is almost the only clear arrival of the Mexicans, who suffer to break the defensive lines of the Colombians.

⏱️ MINUTO 30′ | 🟡⚪ COL 1-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | First half hour of play. With the goal, Colombia stabilized and controlled the pace of the match well. The Mexicans have tried to react, but the team is standing well and managing its advantage. The intensity of the first minutes has already dropped.

⏱️ MINUTO 15′ | 🟡⚪ COL 1-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | Gooooooooooooool from Colombia, who already beat Mexico 1-0 in the friendly being played in Texas. The goal was scored by Jhon Lucumí after a free kick from the right side by James Rodríguez.

Video: this was Lucumí's goal with the Colombian team

The goal was validated until the 18th minute by a VAR review, which confirmed that there was no offside of the defender.

⏱️ MINUTO 12′ | 🟡⚪ COL 0-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | Bad setback for Colombia, after losing the ball. Santiago Jiménez took the controlled ball to the edge of the area and, from there, unleashed a powerful shot that went just wide.

⏱️ MINUTO 9′ | 🟡⚪ COL 0-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | Colombia came out with a long ball from David Ospina to Luis Díaz, who set up James Rodríguez inside the Mexican area. The Cucuteño hooked and defined the angle, but the ball went a little high.

⏱️ MINUTO 5′ | 🟡⚪ COL 0-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | Colombia is the one that dominates the intentions at the start, with control of the ball and good play on the wings. Mexico bets on the counterattack, in a start, in any case, closed in its development.

⏱️ MINUTO 0′ | 🟡⚪ COL 0-0 MEX ⚫⚫ | It is played in Texas: Colombia and Mexico meet in an international friendly, preparatory to the 2026 World Cup.

The football players are already taking to the field at the AT&T Stadium in Texas. Now, they will prepare for the anthems and in minutes the game will begin.

Colombia is already warming up in Arlington. The players have already taken the field and are beginning the final stage of the preview of the match with Mexico.

The Colombian team is already in the AT&T Stadium dressing room fine-tuning the final details before warming up. An atmosphere of total concentration in Néstor Lorenzo's group, which adjusts the final talk and defines the eleven with which it will face Mexico in this first friendly towards the 2026 World Cup.

The match between Colombia and Mexico was scheduled to start at 8:00 pm (Colombian time), but the organization reported that the start will be delayed at least 10 minutes, and could even go a little later.

The reason is the clash of schedules with the match between the Mexican U-20 team against Argentina for the quarterfinals of the 2025 World Cup in Chile, a match that has not yet ended and that will define, precisely, Colombia's rivalwhich qualified for the semifinals this Saturday.

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