Colombia becomes only team to play in all three 2026 World Cup host nations
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Colombia will be the only team to play in all three host nations of the 2026 World Cup: Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
- The team faces a logistical and physical challenge due to extensive travel, unlike some opponents.
- This unique travel itinerary highlights the expanded scale of the 23rd edition of the tournament.
Colombia is set to make history in the 2026 World Cup by becoming the sole team to compete across all three host nations: Mexico, the United States, and Canada. This achievement presents a significant logistical and physical challenge for the squad, managed by Argentine Nรฉstor Lorenzo.
The team's journey began on June 17 in Mexico City's Estadio Azteca with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan. They then traveled to Guadalajara for a 1-0 win against the Democratic Republic of Congo on June 23. Five days later, they secured the top spot in Group K in Miami, U.S., with a draw against Portugal.
Colombia's path continued to Kansas City for a Round of 16 match against Ghana, which they won 1-0. This victory came after a demanding schedule, allowing only three days to travel to Vancouver, Canada, for their next match. This contrasts with opponents like Switzerland, who have had less travel fatigue, having played all their games on the North American west coast.
Should Colombia advance past the Swiss, they face a return to the United States for a quarterfinal match in Kansas City. Further progression could lead them to Atlanta for the semifinals and potentially New York/New Jersey for the final, completing an extraordinary itinerary.
Originally published by Proceso Digital in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.