Colombia’s national team takes on Croatia today at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, in an international friendly. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. in Colombia) , with Nestor Lorenzo’s side looking to measure themselves against one of Europe’s top teams.
Lorenzo’s likely lineup
The Colombian coach fields a balanced squad with a few new faces up front. Camilo Vargas starts in goal. Daniel Muñoz and Johan Mojica line up as fullbacks, with Davinson Sanchez and Jhon Lucumí in central defense.
Jefferson Lerma and Richard Ríos anchor the midfield, while captain James Rodriguez leads the attack alongside Jhon Arias and Luis Diaz. Luis Javier Suarez gets the nod as the starting striker.
Colombia arrives in good form. The team finished third in South American qualifying with 28 points, capped by a 6-3 win over Venezuela. Recent friendlies included a 2-1 victory over New Zealand in Fort Lauderdale and a 3-0 win over Australia in New York.
Croatia brings European quality
Coach Zlatko Dalić sets up his team around captain Luka Modrić in midfield. Mario Pašalić and Kristijan Jakić play alongside him. Up front, Ivan Perišić and Andrej Kramarić lead the attack. Dominik Livaković guards the goal, backed by a solid defensive line featuring Josip Šutalo and Duje Ćaleta-Car.
Croatia arrives on the back of strong results. The team secured its World Cup berth with a 3-2 win over Montenegro and previously beat the Faroe Islands 3-1 in European qualifying. Today’s match is only Croatia’s second warm-up game since the end of that qualifying campaign.
James and Modrić: from teammates to rivals
Both captains share a unique history. James Rodríguez and Luka Modrić played together at Real Madrid across three key seasons between 2014 and 2020, logging 66 official matches as teammates. Together, they won the Champions League and the Spanish league title.
Yet today marks something new. Despite facing each other at club level in Europe, this is the first time they meet as captains of their national teams. James currently plays for Minnesota United in MLS. Modrić, still active at AC Milan with 194 international caps, remains one of the longest-serving players in world football.
Match details
The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. local time at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, with temperatures sitting at a comfortable 23°C (75°F). American referee Rubiel Vázquez leads the officiating crew.
Physically, Croatia holds an edge. The Croatians average 6 feet, 1 inch in height compared to Colombians’ 5 feet, 11 inches. Colombia’s tallest player is backup goalkeeper Álvaro Montero at 6 feet, 5 inches. Croatian defenders Josip Šutalo and Martin Erlić rank just behind him.
Colombia debuts its alternate blue kit with neon details, inspired by the country’s two oceans. Croatia wears its traditional red-and-white checkered uniform. Both captains wear No. 10.
Looking ahead
Both sides have already secured their spots at the 2026 World Cup, which will be played across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. For Colombia, the priority is building chemistry under Lorenzo.
For Croatia, the challenge is maintaining a high level as Modrić’s golden generation winds down. Both staffs will use today’s match to test options and evaluate players, with plenty of time still ahead before the tournament begins.
Official list
Colombia
Goalkeeper: Camilo Vargas
Defenders: Daniel Muñoz, Davinson Sánchez, Jhon Lucumí, Johan Mojica
Midfielders: Richard Ríos, Jefferson Lerma, James Rodríguez (Captain)
Attackers: Jhon Arias, Luis Suárez, Luis Díaz
Croatia
Goalkeeper: Dominik Livaković
Defenders: Kristijan Jakić, Josip Šutalo, Luka Vušković, Josip Stanišić
Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Captain), Petar Sučić, Martin Baturina
Attackers: Andrej Kramarić, Ivan Perišić, Ante Budimir
The referee crew for today’s match, March 26, 2026, is composed entirely of American officials. Here are the confirmed referees:
Center Referee: Rubiel Vazquez (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Da Silva (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Meghan Mullen (USA)
Fourth Official: Victor Rivas (USA)