From Mexico City to Kansas City and now heading to Vancouver, Colombia’s World Cup expedition has seen an enthusiastic wave of supporters following Néstor Lorenzo’s squad. As they prepare to face Switzerland on Tuesday, Colombians are eager to push for their first quarter-final berth in twelve years. After making a mark in Mexico and the United States, the vibrant energy of ‘yellow fever’ is set to sweep through Canada.
The current influx of fans, filling host cities with excitement and color, echoes the atmosphere of the 2014 World Cup, when Colombian supporters traveled en masse to Brazil. This surge in attendance can be attributed to both the team’s recent successes and the long gap since their last World Cup appearance. James Rodríguez, who shone in that tournament, recently urged fans to maintain their positive spirit as they travel to North America, recalling past issues 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 assert himself in the current World Cup, having been substituted at halftime during the last-32 match against Ghana. The team received a heartwarming welcome in Kansas City, where players were visibly touched by the support shown by fans from their hotel balcony. Luis Díaz, stepping into Rodríguez’s role this tournament, expressed gratitude for the support, stating, “Thank you for your support. You are incredible!”
For Juan Carlos Mila, 54, following the national team is a family affair. Having never attended a World Cup before, he traveled North America with his wife and children, who brought their partners along. Their journey began in Mexico City for the match against Uzbekistan, but they faced disappointment in securing tickets for the subsequent game against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Guadalajara.
Once they entered the U.S., the family fully embraced the adventure, renting a minivan to explore the country. They have already covered 7,000 miles, attending the match against Portugal in Miami and the knockout clash with Ghana in Kansas City. Their next stop is New York, where they hope to witness Lorenzo’s squad reach 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 made a point of standing out among the crowd. “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 enthusiasm from Colombia’s supporters has caught the attention of their opponents. “This is the first game that we’re playing ‘away from home’, so to speak,” remarked Roberto Martínez before Portugal’s match against 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 coach, Carlos Queiroz, also expressed surprise at the fervor of Colombian fans. Having previously managed Colombia, he had never experienced a competitive match with fans present due to the Covid pandemic. “Colombia have [good] players, passion and incredible fans,” he noted after Ghana’s elimination in front of a stadium filled with yellow shirts. “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.”
In an interesting twist, the Colombia jersey has become a point of contention back home. The World Cup coincided with the second round of presidential elections, during which the right-wing president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella was seen wearing the national shirt. His left-wing rival, Iván Cepeda, criticized the use of the jersey for political purposes.
“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, noting that after the Colombian Football Federation claimed it lacked legal authority to restrict the shirt’s use, he too began wearing it at campaign events.
Despite this controversy, the Colombia team remains a symbol of unity for their supporters. On Tuesday, they will look to extend their World Cup journey, with fans expected to fill Vancouver Stadium once again. “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 reflected. “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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