Colombia take on Brazil in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday evening in Barranquilla, a humid city located by the Caribbean Sea. With neither team in good form, a victory at the Estadio Metropolitano could kickstart a run of wins and help secure one of six direct qualification spots for 2026.
However, as events in Colombia in recent weeks have reminded the world, some things are bigger than football. The South American sides face each other amidst the emotional backdrop of Luis Díaz’s long-awaited reunion with his father after he had been kidnapped and held hostage for 13 days by Colombian guerrillas.
