Colombia’s elimination in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup left a bitter taste. Néstor Lorenzo’s team fell in the penalty shootout against Switzerland after dominating much of the match, wasting several scoring chances and once again encountering an inspired Gregor Kobel. However, regardless of the result, the coffee team leaves behind one of the most outstanding campaigns of the tournament and a record that no other team will be able to match.
Colombia was the only team that played matches in the three host countries of the 2026 World Cup: Mexico, the United States and Canada, traveling approximately 11,850 kilometers during just over three weeks of competition.
The trip began in Mexico City, where he began his participation in the World Cup. He later moved to Zapopan, in the state of Jalisco, to complete his passage through Mexican territory before embarking on a long flight to Miami, his first stop in the United States.
From the east coast, the Colombian expedition traveled to Kansas City, one of the centers in the center of the country, accumulating thousands of kilometers in just a few days. Finally, their tour concluded in Vancouver, Canada, where they faced Switzerland in the round of 16 and put an end to their World Cup adventure.
The journey included trips of approximately 550 kilometers between Mexico City and Zapopan, 2,600 kilometers to Miami, 2,050 kilometers to Kansas City and 2,650 kilometers to Vancouver, for a total of close to 11,850 kilometers, a figure higher than that of any other participating team.
Logistical wear and tear was never an excuse for a team that maintained a high competitive level during the tournament. Colombia finished undefeated in regulation time and in extra time, but once again showed the problem that accompanied them for a good part of the competition: the lack of forcefulness in front of the rival goal.
Coach Néstor Lorenzo himself summed up the elimination with one word: “aim.” The Argentine coach acknowledged that his team generated enough chances, but that the lack of goals ended up taking its toll. “Not converting is paid,” he admitted after the match.
The players shared the same sentiment. Luis Javier Suárez assured that Colombia “was in for better things”, while Jhon Arias described the elimination as “inexplicable” and regretted that the national team was once again left “at the doorstep”. For his part, Daniel Muñoz highlighted that the team did not stop fighting and that there was nothing to reproach for the dedication shown during the 120 minutes.
Although the World Cup dream ended earlier than expected, Colombia says goodbye with the feeling of having been one of the most competitive teams in the championship. He dominated several of his matches, showed a recognizable football identity and starred in a historic journey that will remain as one of the curiosities of the World Cup in North America.
It was not enough to advance to the quarterfinals, but it was enough to demonstrate that, in addition to competing against the best, it was the team that traveled the most kilometers and the only one capable of playing in Mexico, the United States and Canada, a milestone that summarizes the magnitude of its adventure in the World Cup.
