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International round-up
Fri | 05/09/25 | 10:00
Luis Díaz and Colombia qualify for 2026 World Cup, Germany make false start
Luis Díaz and Colombia will be at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA after Los Cafeteros beat Bolivia 3-0 in Barranquilla on Friday night. The result means Colombia can no longer finish outside the top six of South American qualifying with one game to go and will now feature in next summer’s finals.
“I’m really happy about what we’ve achieved. It’ll be my first time at a World Cup. I’m very moved by it,” said Bayern’s summer signing after the final whistle. After missing out on Qatar in 2022, this will be Colombia’s sixth appearance at the World Cup. “We’ve had a great qualification campaign. We need to keep it up, keeping ourselves grounded. I know the best is still to come and know we’ll perform really well,” Lucho added.
Díaz played 87 minutes against Bolivia and set up Juan Quintero for the third goal. Former Bayern man James Rodríguez and Jhon Córdoba had scored the first two. Colombia’s last game of qualifying is in Venezuela on Tuesday evening.
Germany beaten in Slovakia
Leon Goretzka was one of four Bayern players to start for Germany against Slovakia, alongside Jonathan Tah, Serge Gnabry and Joshua Kimmich. | © Imago
Germany started their qualifying campaign on Thursday night and were beaten 2-0 by Slovakia in Bratislava. Julian Nagelsmann had named four Bayern players in the starting XI with Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry and Jonathan Tah, but the Group A favourites were undone by goals from Dávid Hancko and David Strelec.
“We lacked the desire, didn’t get to grips with them and weren’t tough enough in our duels. We didn’t support each other. We didn’t get our attitude right over the 90 minutes. That can’t happen,” explained captain Kimmich, before adding, “We can’t now fall apart and lose the belief and conviction in our qualities and in this group.”
Joshua Kimmich remained positive despite Germany’s opening defeat in Slovakia. | © Imago
This was Germany’s first away loss ever in 52 World Cup qualifier matches, but their fate remains in their own hands in Group A also consisting of Northern Ireland and Luxembourg. The former are the next opponents in Cologne on Sunday (8.45pm CEST), where a win is now a must.
Bayern’s Bundesliga fixtures through to November have been scheduled:
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