World Cup 2026: James Rodríguez's Colombia books its ticket | OneFootball

The Cafeteros, now free from pressure, will approach their match against Venezuela with confidence.

World Cup 2026: James Rodríguez's Colombia books its ticket

Colombia has officially secured its place at the 2026 World Cup. In Barranquilla, the Cafeteros delivered a commanding and flawless performance against Bolivia (3-0), sealing their return to the global stage.

Driven by the inspired play of James Rodríguez, who found the net in the 32nd minute, Néstor Lorenzo's squad quickly set the tone. In the second half, Jhon Córdoba and Juan Fernando Quintero extended the lead, underlining Colombia's dominance and easing the nerves of fans still reeling from a string of winless matches.

With this rock-solid performance, Colombia returns to the World Cup after missing out on the 2022 edition. For James, now 34, this qualification is especially meaningful: he is set to play in what may well be his final World Cup, more than a decade after making history at Brazil 2014 by winning the Golden Boot.