Eliminated in the Round of 16

Colombia was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after losing to Switzerland in penalties, a result that left the country engulfed in frustration and disappointment. The defeat not only marked the end of the World Cup dream but also opened a deep debate about the structural shortcomings of Colombian football.

Falcao's criticisms

Radamel Falcao, a historic forward and current commentator on ESPN, was one of the harshest voices after the elimination. The "Tiger" lamented the missed opportunities and brought up an old ghost, Colombia's inability to resolve penalty shootouts. "We have to work on penalties in clubs and the national team, there have been many disappointments," he stated firmly, recalling that this weakness has marked several international campaigns.

Criticism of the Colombian league

But his criticism didn't stop there. Falcao pointed directly at the local system, denouncing the absence of a Category C, which would allow greater competitiveness and continuity for young talents. According to the former top scorer, this lack fosters mediocrity and complacency, leaving many footballers without a space to develop. "Perhaps we are the only ones in the world who don't have a third or fourth division, and we lose players at 20 years old because they have nowhere to play," he emphasized.

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