The South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, the United States, and Canada are nearing their conclusion. This Friday, June 6, marks the end of the 15th matchday, with one of the highlighted matches being Colombia versus Peru at the Metropolitano Stadium in Barranquilla, set to kick off at 14:30 Central Mexico time.
A notable update ahead of this match is the absence of Camilo Vargas, who will surprisingly not be part of the Colombian starting eleven. Instead, Atlas goalkeeper Vargas will start on the bench, with Kevin Mier from Cruz Azul taking his place in goal. This decision comes from Argentine coach Néstor Lorenzo, which has raised eyebrows considering Vargas had been a regular starter in nearly all matches of the competition, with the exception of the first-round game against Ecuador due to a prior suspension.
It’s important to mention that Vargas, who is 36 years old, underwent surgery on the meniscus of one of his knees before his inclusion in the national team. Despite this, he was still called up for the double-header of matches, and Coach Lorenzo stated in a pre-match press conference that Vargas was in good physical shape.
This match holds significant implications for both teams as they vie for qualification to the World Cup. Fans will be keen to see how Colombia adapts to this change in goalkeeping, as well as Peru’s strategy to secure a vital away point.
The ongoing qualifiers have captured the attention of football enthusiasts, reflecting the passion and dedication countries have towards achieving their World Cup dreams. The anticipation builds as teams are just a few matches away from potentially securing their places in the prestigious tournament.