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Mexico City, Guadalajara, Miami, Kansas City – Colombia’s World Cup travel has gradually been heading northbound for 3 weeks. Thousands of their supporters now descend connected Vancouver looking to spot Néstor Lorenzo’s broadside effort to scope their first quarter-final successful 12 years erstwhile they look Switzerland connected Tuesday. After Mexico and nan United States, “yellow fever” is astir to deed Canada.
This benignant of instrumentality migration, which has filled big cities pinch vibrant colour and joy, has not been seen since that past quarter-final successful 2014, erstwhile Colombia supporters travelled successful monolithic numbers to Brazil, not only owing to its proximity but besides to nan truth that nan selección had not qualified for a World Cup for almost a procreation before. James Rodríguez, nan breakout prima of that tournament, addressed nan fans earlier travelling to North America arsenic skipper this twelvemonth arsenic location had been problem erstwhile Colombia were successful nan US for nan 2024 Copa América.
“They should cognize that we ever springiness everything and that this affirmative power – successful nan correct spirit, by posting connected societal media arsenic good – is contagious,” said Rodríguez. “You consciousness it and I simply inquire them to bring those bully vibes, support them going and that they do things properly.”
Rodríguez has not been capable to enforce himself connected this World Cup. He was substituted astatine half-time of nan last-32 triumph against Ghana successful Kansas City, wherever nan Colombia squad came retired connected to nan pavilion of their edifice to beryllium serenaded by supporters nan nighttime earlier nan game, pinch immoderate of nan players visibly moved. And that was successful Kansas City, wherever location is not a ample Colombian population. Luis Díaz, nan talisman successful Rodríguez’s spot this tournament, posted connected societal media: “Thank you for your support. You are incredible!”
Following Colombia astatine nan World Cup is simply a family affair. Juan Carlos Mila, 54, had ne'er been to 1 earlier but this twelvemonth he has travelled to North America pinch his woman and their children, who person brought their partners too. They flew to Mexico City for nan opener against Uzbekistan earlier returning to Colombia having not managed to get tickets for nan adjacent group fixture against nan Democratic Republic of nan Congo successful Guadalajara.
Once they reached nan US, they went each in, renting a mini van to zigzag crossed nan country. They’ve racked up 7,000 miles connected nan road, taking successful nan crippled successful Miami against Portugal and past nan knockout necktie against Ghana successful Kansas City. From there, they are heading for New York, wherever they dream to spot Lorenzo’s broadside successful nan final.
“We brought T-shirts, vueltiaos hats, caps, Colombia flags,” says Mila. “My kids, being entrepreneurs, started trading them. It each helps to salary for nan conveyance 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 beryllium embarrassed?”
Mila and his family person besides made an effort to guidelines retired successful nan stadiums. “We made a emblem that is astir six metres agelong and trim six holes into it,” he says. “We put our heads done nan holes. The emblem says ‘Colombia Mundial 2026’.”
The level of Colombia’s support has amazed their opponents. “This is nan first crippled that we’re playing ‘away from home’, truthful to speak,” said Roberto Martínez earlier his Portugal broadside played Colombia. “There is simply a immense number of Colombia fans present successful Miami, truthful it will beryllium a large situation to power nan crippled and beryllium ourselves successful these surroundings, keeping our emotions successful check.”
The Ghana manager, Carlos Queiroz, was besides taken aback. The Portuguese coach was successful complaint of Colombia betwixt 2019 and 2020 but was ne'er successful nan dugout for a competitory lucifer pinch fans owing to nan Covid pandemic. “Colombia person [good] players, passion and unthinkable fans,” he said aft Ghana were knocked retired astatine a Kansas City Stadium packed afloat of yellowish shirts. “They started to triumph nan crippled aft nan anthem. They were stronger pinch 60,000 group connected their broadside and it affects an inexperienced team. I felt immoderate of my Ghana players were not calm because Colombia’s 12th man did a very bully job.”
Interestingly, though, nan Colombia garment has go an rumor of contention backmost home. The commencement of nan World Cup coincided pinch nan 2nd information of voting successful statesmanlike elections. Abelardo de la Espriella, nan right-wing campaigner who is now president-elect, appeared successful nationalist wearing a Colombia garment and his left-wing rival, Iván Cepeda, took rumor pinch it.
“The Colombia squad is for each Colombians. Its usage for political, individual and ideological purposes is simply a intelligibly opportunistic move and its ineligible implications should beryllium examined,” said Cepeda who, aft nan Colombian Football Federation said it did not person nan ineligible capacity to limit nan usage of nan shirt, yet wore it to run events himself.
Aside from that issue, nan Colombia squad proceed to beryllium a constituent of unity and, connected Tuesday, they dream to widen their tally astatine nan World Cup. The players tin expect different patient contingent astatine Vancouver Stadium. “The players are nan ones who want it most. Us, arsenic fans, we’re watching it from afar pinch awesome anticipation, support and yearning,” says Mila. “They’ll spell retired connected to nan transportation to springiness their all. They don’t want to suffer nan shot aliases suffer nan game. That’s contagious.”
