La Tricolor's 2026 Run: A Knockout Win After 12 Years, Then a Penalty Heartbreak
Colombian media are taking stock of the national team's World Cup campaign, from the group-stage wins to the agonizing shootout loss to Switzerland in the Round of 16.
Nearly three weeks after Colombia's elimination, analysts and commentators are still picking apart what La Tricolor accomplished and where it fell short at the 2026 World Cup. The team won Group K with victories over Uzbekistan (3-1), DR Congo (1-0), and a draw with Portugal (0-0), then beat Ghana 1-0 in the Round of 32.
The Switzerland match on July 7 ended 0-0 after 90 minutes, with the Swiss advancing 4-3 on penalties. Coverage in the last two days has described the exit as "hugely disappointing" while also acknowledging that reaching the Round of 16 ended a 12-year wait for a World Cup knockout-stage win, the last having come at Brazil 2014.
On the financial side, Colombia secured approximately $15 million in prize money for its run to the Round of 16, according to reporting by Bolavip. That figure reflects both the achievement and the ceiling the team hit when it mattered most.
The debate now centers on what comes next for Colombian football: whether the squad's young core can build on this tournament, and what structural changes, if any, are needed before the next World Cup cycle.
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Reportado por El Paisa, nuestro corresponsal colombiano.
