James Rodríguez, the captain of the Colombian National Team.
Photo: EFE – Mauricio Dueñas Castañeda
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Colombia lived an unforgettable night at the Barranquilla Metropolitan Stadium, where He sealed his 2026 World Cup classification with a resounding 3-0 victory over Bolivia.
With this result, the tricolor officially reached its seventh participation in a World Cup, after having been in Chile 1962, Italy 1990, United States 1994, France 1998, Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018.
The World Illusion returns and the country celebrates a Gesta that was led by its captain, James Rodríguez.
James showed the way to Colombia
The game began with tension, but it was James himself who opened the scoring at 31 minutes, unlocking a closed duel with a goal after a flush center in Santiago Arias.
In the second part came the goals of Jhon Córdoba, at minute 73, and Juan Fernando Quintero, to 84, to seal a blunt triumph that confirmed the mathematical classification of Colombia, in the absence of a date in the qualifiers.
“We have to be happy”: James Rodríguez's words
The television cameras captured James Rodríguez crying in the field after the final whistle.
The captain, aware of what this step for his career and for the country means, could not contain the emotion. His tears toured the face of who has been a symbol of a generation that returns the country to the maximum football scenario.
“I believe that the whole country is happy. For me it was special: unlocking the game, making the goal. I wanted to make a goal today, also help, and well, I think I have done it. Those who have also entered, Juan made a pass, goal, and well, that is what they do to the big teams, that those who enter can also help,” James said after the match in an interview with the goal Caracol.
When asked about what characterizes the selection, the captain was clear: “who always wants to play. I think we always want to play, we always want to be up. I think we have to be happy now and think about everything that comes.”
James also referred to what has lived in recent years, with memorable victories and difficult moments: “Yes, I think I stay more with all good things in all these games, in all these years. And well, I just want to be happy now, because the truth is that time passes fast.”
The '10' insisted that he does not want to talk about his retirement and prefers to focus on what he is living: “I think you have to think about what it is now. I do not like to talk about what will happen, because one still does not know anything. Now I want to have a good time, be happy, and we go to another world cup.”
The captain also denied any physical discomfort after the meeting: “Did they put ice, something?” They asked him. James responded with a smile: “Nothing, nothing, nothing. A blow, a blow, now.”
Seven times World Cups
With this victory, Colombia not only sealed its quota, but also completed the group of six classified of Conmebol: Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Colombia.
Now it only remains to be defined who will occupy the seventh since it will give access to the repechage, in the fight held by Venezuela and Bolivia. The tricolor, on the other hand, can already celebrate that it will be in the 2026 World Cup.
This was the table after date 17 of the qualifiers
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