Colombia vs Chile: Friendly in Cali Without James Rodríguez as Cordova Leads Chile

Colombia host Chile in a 2026 international friendly on Friday at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Cali, a match that kicks off at 7pm ET according to betting previews. The game is the latest test for Néstor Lorenzo's side after a mixed recent run, and it comes without James Rodríguez, who retired from international football in September.

Rodríguez absent after retirement

James Rodríguez is not in the squad for the match. He announced his retirement from the national team on September 15, 2026, closing a 15-year career with Los Cafeteros. He finished with 131 appearances, 31 goals and 43 assists, making him Colombia's most-capped player and its second-highest scorer behind Radamel Falcao.

His last game came on July 7, 2026, in a Round of 16 defeat to Switzerland at the World Cup in Vancouver, where he played 66 minutes. According to Lorenzo, Rodríguez had told him of his intention to retire after that match, and the coach respected his decision to choose when to make it public.

Davinson Sánchez is expected to take over the captaincy. Lorenzo has named the Galatasaray defender as his leading candidate, citing his time with the squad and his experience at major tournaments. Sánchez is part of Colombia's 26-man squad for the November friendlies.

Form and the Suárez question

Both teams have been inconsistent recently. Colombia drew 1-1 with Mexico, lost 1-0 to Paraguay and then beat Peru 2-0 in their last window. Chile recorded a 2-0 win over Mexico on neutral ground, a result that has given them some encouragement.

Attacking output has been limited on both sides. Colombia have scored four goals in their last five matches, while Chile have scored seven in the same span, according to Goal.com's preview. Neither side has scored more than two goals in a match across that run.

Luis Suárez is the player to watch for Colombia. He failed to score in five appearances at the World Cup but has scored six goals in his last seven games for Sporting CP. Previews describe him as Colombia's most dangerous attacker, and Friday could offer him a chance to rediscover his form for the national team.

Head-to-head and what to expect

The recent history between the two sides is tight. Colombia have won just two of the last 10 meetings, Chile have won once since 2016, and seven of those games ended level. Chile have failed to score in either of their last two meetings with Colombia.

Chile are being led by Nicolás Córdova, the under-20 coach who was given the senior side on an interim basis after Ricardo Gareca's tenure ended. No permanent successor has been appointed, so Córdova will take charge for this window. Colombia's expected lineup includes Suárez up front, while Chile's includes Tapia and Echeverría in attack, according to pre-match reports.

What we know so far

The match is set for Cali on Friday, with Colombia aiming to build on their win over Peru and Chile looking to build on their result against Mexico. Rodríguez's absence will be the most visible change, and the transition to Sánchez as captain will be closely watched. Lineups are based on pre-match expectations and may change before kick-off.

Ties were the most common result in recent meetings, and several previews have pointed to a low-scoring game as a likely outcome.