With Carrascal benched, Colombia name team to face Congo at World Cup | OneFootball

Colombia aims to secure early qualification this Tuesday (23)

Colombia’s national team takes the field this Tuesday (23) with a chance to secure an early spot in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup. After beating Uzbekistan in their opener, the team coached by Néstor Lorenzo faces the Democratic Republic of the Congo at 11 p.m. (Brasília time) in Guadalajara, Mexico. Jorge Carrascal, of Flamengo, remains on the bench.

The Flamengo player was not chosen by Néstor Lorenzo to be part of the starting lineup and appears as an option for the course of the match. The decision keeps the core of the team that beat Uzbekistan 3-1 in the first round of the World Cup. Thus, the team will take the field with: Vargas; Muñoz, Davinson Sánchez, Lucumí and Mojica; Lerma, Puerta and Jhon Arias; James Rodríguez, Luis Suárez and Luis Díaz.

WHAT DOES COLOMBIA NEED TO QUALIFY, AFTER ALL?

The Colombians are in a comfortable position in Group K. After beating Uzbekistan in the opener, the team has three points and finished the first round alone at the top of the table. Since Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo drew in their opener, a win this Tuesday (23) guarantees early qualification for the next stage, regardless of the other results in the group.

If they confirm their place, it will be only the fourth time Colombia have made it past the group stage of a World Cup. The previous campaigns came in 1990, when they were knocked out in the round of 16, in 2014, when they reached the quarterfinals, and in 2018, again with elimination in the round of 16.

SO HOW DOES CONGO COME INTO THIS?

On the other side, the Democratic Republic of the Congo will try to pull off another surprise. The African team earned an important 1-1 draw against Portugal in the opening round and kept their qualification hopes alive.

Coach Sébastien Desabre adopted a more defensive approach in the opener, changing the team’s usual tactical setup to face the Portuguese. The strategy worked, and now there is anticipation over what approach he will take against Colombia. Thus, the team takes the field with Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Kapuadi and Masuaku; Mukau, Moutoussamy and Kayembe; Wissa and Bakambu.

WHERE TO WATCH COLOMBIA VS CONGO?

The match between Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be broadcast by TV Globo, SporTV and CazéTV. Coluna do Fla, of course, will be keeping an eye on the match, especially if Jorge Carrascal is used in this Tuesday’s (23) clash.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.