In Korea, every move matters as Colombia kicks off a promising year with a high-energy friendly
In a bustling start to the year, the Colombian national team gathers momentum under the guidance of Néstor Lorenzo as it maps out its path toward the 2026 World Cup cycle. The upcoming clash with South Korea is not just a routine tune-up; it embodies a deliberate push to blend youthful enthusiasm with the wisdom of Colombia’s seasoned core. The match offers a platform for the squad to reveal its evolving identity, testing capabilities against a well-structured opponent and gathering valuable insights that can shape future selections and tactics. The fixture sets the tone for a campaign that looks to balance pace, technique, and adaptability in a busy calendar ahead.
Colombia enters the game aiming to reproduce the strong beginning shown in late 2022, when Lorenzo began shaping the squad and guiding it toward competitive performances. Facing a confident South Korea side traveling with their own momentum, the encounter becomes a barometer for both teams’ readiness as the calendar intensifies. The South Koreans arrive with domestic form drawn from ambitious campaigns centered around the Ulsan setup, ready to translate that success onto the international stage. This match serves as a stress test for fitness, tactical flexibility, and depth across positions, offering coaches crucial data points as preparations continue for forthcoming assignments.
MINUTE BY MINUTE
THE PAYMENTS
Colombia: Vargas; Muñoz, Cuesta, Lucumi, Mojica; Uribe, Castano; Valoyes, Rodriguez, Carrascal; I erased. Colombia
South Korea: Seung-gyu Kim; Kim Tae-Hwan, Woo-Young Jung, Kim Min-Jae, Jin-Su Kim; Kim Young-Gwon, Hwang In-Beom; Woo-Yeong Jeong, Lee Jae-Sung, Heung-Min Son; Cho Gue Sung. South Korea
Notes: The lineup details reflect the latest available data for this friendly and are presented to provide a clear snapshot of how both teams align in this preparatory clash.