Se desvanece la posibilidad de un ‘Last Dance’ de Juan Guillermo Cuadrado con la selección Colombia

Juan Guillermo Cuadrado still does not have a confirmed return date to the field, as uncertainty grows regarding his potential participation in the upcoming World Cup with the Colombian National Team. The player, who recently returned to Italy after a brief stay in Colombia, continues his recovery process under the supervision of the medical staff at Pisa FC, as reported by coach Alberto Gilardino in a press conference.

The midfielder suffered a thigh injury on November 7, sidelining him from ten matches with the Italian club. Although an initial return was anticipated by the end of January, the coach emphasized that “I still don’t have an exact date for Juan Guillermo Cuadrado’s return; he still needs to start running, and I don’t have a concrete timeframe.”

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So far this season, the Colombian has played 401 minutes over 12 matches, netting one goal in Serie A and appearing twice in the Coppa Italia. Juan Guillermo Cuadrado signed with Pisa FC this season to regain prominence and be considered by Néstor Lorenzo for the national team, a prospect that grows more uncertain due to his prolonged inactivity.

With the Colombian national team, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado has participated in 116 matches and scored 11 goals. His last call-up was in September 2023, when he was selected for the South American qualifiers against Venezuela and Chile. The midfielder started against Venezuela in that match. Meanwhile, his most recent goal came in June of the same year against the German national team.

The Colombian national team will play two friendly matches against Croatia and France in March as preparation for the FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada 2026. The first match against Croatia, 2018 World Cup runner-up, is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. (Colombian time) at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, with a capacity of 65,000.

Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, highlighted the significance of the World Cup after confirming the match with Colombia, stating: “It is a happiness and a true pride to be able to participate in this new World Cup. Moreover, we know that we have a team that is among those capable of having ambition in this competition,” he said. Diallo emphasized the confidence placed in Didier Deschamps and his coaching staff, detailing plans for preparation in the United States.

The match against France is set for Sunday, March 29 at 3:00 p.m. (Colombian time) at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The president of the Croatian Football Federation, Marijan Kustić, celebrated the organization of the friendlies in Orlando: “Brazil and Colombia are among the best teams in the world, and the mere fact that Brazil has selected Croatia and France to prepare for World Cup 2026 speaks volumes about our reputation in global football,” he stated.

Notable players that could face Colombia include Luka Modric (AC Milan), Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City), and Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich), who are regulars in the Croatian national team.

• June 17: Portugal vs. Intercontinental Playoff (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia) – Houston – 12:00 p.m.
• June 17: Uzbekistan vs. Colombia – Mexico City (Estadio Azteca) – 9:00 p.m.

• June 23: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan – Houston – 12:00 p.m.
• June 23: Colombia vs. Intercontinental Playoff (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia) – Guadalajara (Estadio Akron) – 9:00 p.m.

• June 27: Colombia vs. Portugal – Miami (Hard Rock Stadium) – 6:30 p.m.
• June 27: Intercontinental Playoff (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia) vs. Uzbekistan – 6:30 p.m.