Colombia’s World Cup adventure has steadily progressed northward over the past three weeks, with thousands of supporters arriving in Vancouver, eager to witness Néstor Lorenzo’s team aim for their first quarter-final appearance in 12 years against Switzerland on Tuesday. Following the excitement in Mexico and the United States, the vibrant ‘yellow fever’ is now set to embrace Canada.
This wave of fan enthusiasm, which has brought a lively atmosphere to host cities, recalls the massive Colombian presence at the last quarter-final in 2014, where supporters flocked to Brazil not only due to its proximity but also because Colombia had not qualified for a World Cup for nearly two decades. James Rodríguez, the star of that tournament, addressed fans prior to this journey, recalling past challenges faced during the 2024 Copa América in the U.S.
“They should know that we always give everything and that this positive energy – in the right spirit, by posting on social media as well – is contagious,” Rodríguez remarked. “You feel it and I simply ask them to bring those good vibes, keep them going and that they do things properly.”
Despite his efforts, Rodríguez has struggled to make a significant impact in this tournament, having been substituted at halftime during the last-32 match against Ghana in Kansas City. There, the Colombian team was greeted by enthusiastic supporters from their hotel balcony the night before the match, visibly touching some players. Luis Díaz, taking the spotlight in Rodríguez’s absence, expressed gratitude on social media, stating.
“Thank you for your support. You are incredible!”
For Juan Carlos Mila, 54, this World Cup experience has been a family affair. Although it was his first time attending, he traveled to North America with his wife and children, who also brought their partners along. The family flew to Mexico City for the opening match against Uzbekistan, but returned to Colombia when tickets for the next group fixture against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Guadalajara proved elusive.
Once in the U.S., they committed fully to the experience, renting a minivan to traverse the country. After covering 7,000 miles, they attended the match in Miami against Portugal and the knockout game against Ghana in Kansas City. Their next destination is New York, where they hope to see Lorenzo’s squad in the final.
“We brought T-shirts, vueltiaos hats, caps, Colombia flags,” Mila shared. “My kids, being entrepreneurs, started selling them. It all helps to pay for the vehicle rental, petrol, food, hotels. I asked them if they were embarrassed by having to do this and they said: ‘No, Dad, it’s embarrassing if you get caught stealing. Why would we be embarrassed?’”
Mila’s family has also made notable efforts to stand out in the stadiums. “We made a flag that is around six metres long and cut six holes into it,” he explained. “We put our heads through the holes. The flag says ‘Colombia Mundial 2026’.”
The level of support from Colombian fans has taken opponents by surprise. “This is the first game that we’re playing ‘away from home’, so to speak,” stated Roberto Martínez before his Portugal team faced Colombia. “There is a huge number of Colombia fans here in Miami, so it will be a big challenge to control the game and be ourselves in these surroundings, keeping our emotions in check.”
Ghana’s manager, Carlos Queiroz, was also impressed. Having previously coached Colombia without fans due to the pandemic, he noted: “Colombia have [good] players, passion and incredible fans,” After Ghana’s elimination in a Kansas City stadium filled with yellow shirts, he commented, “They started to win the game after the anthem. They were stronger with 60,000 people on their side and it affects an inexperienced team. I felt some of my Ghana players were not calm because Colombia’s 12th man did a very good job.”
Interestingly, the Colombia shirt has become a topic of controversy back home. The World Cup coincided with the second round of presidential elections, leading to tensions when Abelardo de la Espriella, the right-wing candidate and now president-elect, wore the national jersey publicly, which was contested by his left-wing rival, Iván Cepeda.
“The Colombia team is for all Colombians. Its use for political, personal and ideological purposes is a clearly opportunistic move and its legal implications should be examined,”
Cepeda stated, later donning the shirt at his campaign events after the Colombian Football Federation indicated it lacked the authority to restrict its use.
Despite this controversy, the Colombia team remains a symbol of unity, and on Tuesday, they aim to prolong their World Cup journey. Another strong turnout is anticipated at Vancouver Stadium. “The players are the ones who want it most. Us, as fans, we’re watching it from afar with great anticipation, support and yearning,” Mila said. “They’ll go out on to the pitch to give their all. They don’t want to lose the ball or lose the game. That’s contagious.”
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