Néstor Lorenzo, on the Colombian National Team

Néstor Lorenzo hugs Jhon Córdoba after his goal in the match against Bolivia.

Photo: AFP – Luis Acosta

Néstor Lorenzo celebrated Colombia's classification to the 2026 World Cup with the serenity of those who feel that the work paid off.

The Argentine coach highlighted the process lived since his arrival on the bench and assured that the tricolor deserved to seal his ticket in advance.

“I highlight the process since we arrived, a new team. This classification should have been achieved two or three dates,” he said after the 3-0 victory over Bolivia.

The coach was excited with what was achieved, but already thinks about what is coming. For him, the goal is clear: make history in the appointment that will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada. “I am one more, I am at the service of the boys, of the selection, of the country. I do not feel more or less than when we were with José (Pékerman). It gives me a lot of satisfaction, it is another World Cup in my career. God wants us to do the best World Cup in history,” he said.

Lorenzo also highlighted the confidence he had in the group even in moments of anxiety. The coach stressed that the mental part was worked thoroughly and that allowed to overcome the difficulties of the tie. “I am calm. I was with the certainty that was going to be given. We had worked the mental part, there was energy on the campus. Sometimes anxiety plays a bad pass. Thank God we could solve it. I have a group of players who are convinced of what we are doing, it is in this project,” he said.

Finally, it made it clear that, although the classification is already a reason for joy, work begins. Lorenzo stressed that there will be time to adjust details and strengthen the team for the World Cup. “This gives us hope to prepare to make a great World Cup. With time we will improve the aspects we need to get to the World Cup in the best way,” he concluded.

This achieved the classification in Barranquilla

The match against Bolivia showed a solid and convinced Colombia of its game. Captain James Rodríguez opened the scoring with a first definition after a triangulation with Luis Díaz and Santiago Arias. That allowed him to overcome Radamel Falcao as the top Colombian scorer in qualifiers, a symbolic detail on a party night.

In the second half, the entrance of Juan Fernando Quintero changed the course of the game. With a masterful pass he enabled Córdoba for the second goal and later closed the win with the third. With this performance, Colombia not only assured the three points, but also mathematically guaranteed the quota to the World Cup with a day to play.

Colombia, among the 16 partial classified to the 2026 World Cup

The classification returns to the country the illusion of shining in the appointment that will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. It will be the seventh time that Colombia is present in the tournament After its participations in Chile 1962, Italy 1990, United States 1994, France 1998, Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018.

In addition to Colombia, Uruguay and Paraguay also sealed their classification on this day. Both selections met their objectives and joined the group of countries that have already secured their place in the World Cup. With this, Conmebol has already defined its six direct places.

The group of classified by the South American Confederation is completed by Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador, which had achieved their pass on previous dates. Now it only remains for defining the quota to the repechage, which Venezuela and Bolivia are played on the last day.

The situation leaves the region with a clear panorama: six South American teams will be in the 2026 World Cup. The only unknown is which of the two remaining selections will have the possibility of looking for its place in the intercontinental repechage.

With this new classification, Colombia swells the list of 16 selections that have already secured their ticket to the World Cup. The tricolor joins a group in which historical powers and emerging selections that have surprised in the qualifiers stand out.

What are the others classified so far?

In Concacaf, the three hosts of the World Cup – Mexico, the United States and Canada – have their quota guaranteed for being organizers.

From the AFC, they are already inside Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan and Jordan. By Oceania, New Zealand also sealed its classification after overcoming its regional path.

In total, 16 selections are already preparing for the 2026 appointment, waiting for new names to be added from Europe, Africa and intercontinental repechage.

In this way, the list of classified so far is as follows:

Concacaf

1. Mexico
2. USA
3. Canada

Conmebol

1. Argentina
2. Brazil
3. Ecuador
4. Uruguay
5. Colombia
6. Paraguay

OFC

1. New Zealand

AFC

1. Japan
2. South Korea
3. Australia
4. Iran
5. Uzbekistan
6. Jordan

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