The coffee growers are pursuing a fresh ordination in a tournament they have not claimed in a full decade, and the entire country is watching closely as a new chapter begins. In South American youth football, the Under-20 category often serves as a proving ground for future stars, and Colombia aims to capitalize on home soil to reclaim that prestige after ten long years without the trophy.
Colombia aspires to rejoin the Under 20 World Cup field by marching to the top of the podium. This year marks a special milestone because the nation will host the event for the first time since 2005, stepping onto the world stage with a squad crafted to seize the title it last held in 2013. The campaign comes with a clear expectation: triumph on home turf, an achievement earned by doubling down on consistency in both defense and attack across four opportunities to lift the championship as organizers.
The road will be demanding. The coffee growers find themselves slotted into a group with football powerhouses such as Brazil and Argentina, a pairing that immediately signals high-stakes matches and decisive moments. Yet Héctor Cárdenas has built a compact, competitive ensemble designed to face those adversaries head on, delivering memorable performances for a devoted home crowd and to demonstrate growth on a continental stage.
Colombia 2023 South American Under 20: fixtures, positions, groups and qualification for the World Cup
DID COLOMBIA WIN THE SOUTH AMERICAN SUB 20?
La Tricolor will push to win its fourth title in the category in 2023, a goal that had eluded the team for a decade since the early days of the competition on Argentine soil. The squad carries historical weight, aware that past campaigns have produced both triumphs and valuable lessons that shape current training methods and tactical decisions.
In their inaugural appearance on the continent, Colombia shared Group A with Chile, Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia, finishing second with six points. The following hexagonal phase saw the team rise to first place with twelve points, overcoming Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile in sequence. The roster featured talents such as Juan Fernando Quintero, John Córdoba, Miguel Ángel Borja, Jherson Vergara and Juan Pablo Nieto, whose contributions were pivotal in establishing a benchmark for younger players to emulate.
Colombia also claimed a home title in 2005, a tournament played on familiar grounds in the coffee region. That edition highlighted Hugo Rodallega as a standout, while Argentina showcased stars like Lionel Messi in a memorable clash. The locals finished second in Group A with ten points, trailing only Argentina on goal difference. The knockout phase, however, saw Colombia surge forward, collecting thirteen of fifteen possible points to clinch the crown, surpassing Brazil, Argentina and Chile along the way.
The competition’s first-ever triumph dates back to 1987, also hosted in Colombia, a moment that confirmed the country as a natural home for the tournament. Colombia advanced from Group B with Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Bolivia, finishing second with four points, while Uruguay led the group with eight. In the final stretch, the team secured five of nine points and toppled Brazil to claim glory, etching a lasting memory in the history books.
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