LIMA, PERU – JUNE 03: Luis Díaz of Colombia celebrates with team mate Mateus Uribe and William Tesillo after scoring his team’s third goal during a match between Peru and Colombia in the South American qualifier for the Qatar 2022 at Estadio Nacional de Lima on June 03, 2021 in Lima, Peru. (Photo by Paolo Aguilar – Pool/Getty Images)
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The Colombian national team has two critical World Cup qualifiers ahead and will prepare for those games with a friendly against Honduras on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
With four games to go in the 18 South American qualifiers Colombia is in fourth place, the last place for an automatic bid for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. ‘Los Cafeteros’, as the team is known, will host Peru on January 28 and play on the road against Argentina on February 1.
Brazil are first with 35 points, Argentina second with 29 and Ecuador third with 23. Colombia and Peru are tied on 17 points but Colombia have the advantage on goal differential.
Colombia’s roster for Sunday’s friendly is missing most of the Europe-based players but includes first-team regulars Fredy Hinestroza Arias, Juan Fernando Quintero Paniagua and Miguel Angel Borja Hernandez. Portland Timbers midfielder Yimmi Chara Zamora and Seattle Sounders defenseman Yeimar Gomez Andrade were also called up.
Los Angeles FC rising star Cristian Arango was on the list but dropped after testing positive for COVID last week.
The Honduras roster includes captain Maynor Figueroa with over 160 appearances and Real España goalkeeper and captain Luis Lopez.
“We are very happy to come back to Florida. It will be great to see Colombia’s many fans again. We are looking forward to a great match against Honduras,” said Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda.
“We’re really happy to bring the Honduras national team to Fort Lauderdale so you can all see our game against Colombia and support us,” said Honduran coach Hernan Dario Gomez.
Tickets are $40 and are available through ticketmaster.com
