Néstor Lorenzo renews as Colombia coach through 2026 World Cup

Néstor Lorenzo will continue as the head coach of the Colombian national football team after renewing his contract, the Colombian Football Federation (FCF) announced Thursday. Lorenzo, who has led the team since 2022, guided Colombia to the Round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup, where they were eliminated by Switzerland in a penalty shootout following a goalless match.

Despite reaching the World Cup knockout stage, Lorenzo faced criticism from fans and analysts for the team's performance, which was considered below their strong showing in South American qualifiers. In the World Cup, Colombia secured three wins, one draw, and one loss, scoring five goals. They reached the final of the 2024 Copa América, losing 1-0 to Argentina, marking their first final appearance since 2001 when they won the tournament.

Lorenzo cited the constant travel between host countries as a major challenge during the World Cup. The team played in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The coach also faced media reports of alleged squad divisions and verbal altercations, as well as online threats directed at player Jáminton Campaz after a missed scoring opportunity in the match against Switzerland.

Under Lorenzo's tenure, Colombia has played 51 international matches, recording 31 wins, 12 draws, and eight losses. The FCF did not specify the duration of the renewed contract.

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Now is the time to recover energy and continue working on the development of this project. We will continue building a stronger team.