Pre-World Cup 2026 friendlies: Colombia-Costa Rica, likely lineups

Colombia and Costa Rica face off at Bogota’s Estadio El Campin for a friendly in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. The match, scheduled for 1 a.m. Italian time, is the first of two run-in matches by the Cafeteros at the rainbow tournament with the opening scheduled for June 11. Great excitement for the South Americans as they return to play in the long-awaited tournament after failing to qualify in 2022, Nestor Lorenzo’s boys were drawn in Group K along with Portugal, Uzbekistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Costa Rica national soccer team, on the other hand, failed to qualify for the World Cup due to a very disappointing path in the final round of CONCACAF qualifiers. Although the tournament expanded the pass to as many as 48 teams and the region’s three biggies (the U.S., Mexico, and Canada) were already qualified ex officio as host countries, the Ticos collapsed in a seemingly within reach mini-giron against Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Conditioned by heavy missteps, including a decisive defeat against Haiti and a deadlocked draw against Honduras on the last day, Costa Rica finished third in their grouping, being resoundingly eliminated after 3 straight World Cups played.

Nestor Lorenzo relies on the experience of Ospina in goal, 4-man defense with fresh Conference League winner Munoz and Mojica as full-backs. In the midfield space is given to the physicality of Rios and Lerma, on the three-quarter the quality of James Rodriguez assisted by Luis Diaz and Arias on the flanks, the only striker Luis Suarez (Sporting Lisbon striker).

Fernando Batista after disappointment starts again: Sequeira between the posts, Salazar, Villalobos and Vargas central in the 5-man defense, Mitchell and Araya as fifths. In midfield captain Galo along with Mora and Soto, forward the pair formed by Zamora and Alcocer.

Probable lineups

COLOMBIA (4-2-3-1): Ospina; Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica; Rios, Lerma; Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Suarez. All. Lorenzo.

COSTA RICA (5-3-2): Sequeira; Mitchell, Salazar, Villalobos, Vargas, Araya; Mora, Galo, Soto; Zamora, Alcocer. All. Batista