Sombreros, Mariachis and Two Stars: Colombia Arrived in Mexico With a Party — and a Serious Mission
James Rodríguez and Luis Díaz sang with mariachis in Guadalajara. Colombia opens Group G play on June 17 against Uzbekistan at the Azteca.
Colombia's arrival in Mexico for the final preparation phase ahead of the 2026 World Cup did not go unnoticed. At the team hotel in Guadalajara, the squad was welcomed by a mariachi band — and James Rodríguez and Luis Díaz could not resist: they put on traditional sombreros and joined in the singing. The lighthearted scene was captured on camera and quickly spread across social media, according to ge.globo.com.
The relaxed mood contrasts sharply with the weight of what lies ahead. Colombia are in Group G alongside Portugal, DR Congo and Uzbekistan — a bracket that demands seriousness from the very first whistle. Their opener is set for next Wednesday, June 17, against Uzbekistan at the Estadio Azteca. In their warm-up friendlies, Néstor Lorenzo's side showed good form, beating Costa Rica 3–1 and Jordan 2–0.
The delegation's chosen base of operations is a five-star hotel in the heart of Guadalajara's financial district, with more than 200 rooms, exclusive areas for the players and strict access control. The venue sits approximately 25 kilometres from the training centre, with easy access to the airport — logistics the coaching staff considered strategic.
The Golmetria model points to Portugal as the strong favourite to top the group, with a 41.7% chance of finishing first and an 87.3% probability of advancing to the knockout stage. For Colombia, the path runs through a solid opening performance against Uzbekistan — and the carefree atmosphere in Guadalajara may be exactly the spark the squad needed before facing the real challenge.