Colombia vs Venezuela, summary: Borré, score, goals & highlights | CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifiers
Colombia vs Venezuela: as it happened
Full time report:
A goal 20 seconds after the second half began was enough for Colombia to seal the victory over Venezuela and get their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign off to a positive start.
The home side had the lion's share of the ball for the entire game, with Venezuela's plan of action to catch them on the counter.
And in the first half, the system almost worked: a cheap giveaway allowed a cross from the right to be met by Herrera but he sent his effort just wide of the goal.
The two teams went into the half-time break level but it took just seconds for the team in yellow to break the deadlock.
A sleepy Venezuela gave Arias too much time and allowed him to float a ball into the box for Borré to head past Romo.
From then on, it was game management for Colombia, who continued to create chances but ultimately Borré's headed effort was all that was needed against a stubborn opponent.
That's all, folks!
Thanks for joining in on the action, it's been a blast!
Make sure you check out the site for all the latest sports news.
Joe
James' impressive stats:
· 15 minutes played
· 1 key pass every 3.7 minutes!
· 16/17 passes completed (94%)
· 3/3 long passes completed (100%)
· 1 foul won
· 7.2 overall score
A positive omen for Colombia?
Colombia have qualified for 4 of the last 5 World Cups in which they have started off their qualification with a win.
The only time they didn't was for the 2022 World Cup, where they beat, ahem, Venezuela.
How things look...
Yes, I know it's early to look at the table, but it's never too early to get some points on the board.
Colombia are top as things stand, although that may change given the amount of games that are happening around this time.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The man of the moment!
Borré's goal was all that was needed for Colombia to get out of the game with three points.
Luis Díaz post game:
We're happy with the result.
We are glad we have started off on the right foot.
We knew we had to win this game, from the first minute. In the second half we went for it more.
The substitutes had a good impact.
I thank the fans for all their support. I always feel at home being here. I just try to do my best and win, which is the thing I want the most.
Néstor Lorenzo post-game:
It was a complicated game, we knew this.
Thanks to God that it worked out for us. We set up well.
At half time we just changed a few things and attacked quicker and better.
Borré is a great guy, he deserves the goal.
FULL TIME
Colombia start their 2026 World Cup journey with a win!
No way... Otero actually went for the shot. It was 45 yards out.
Free-kick to Venezuela in the centre of the pitch - one last chance?
Venezuela can't get through the Colombian midfield...
We're seeing an awful lot of Colombia players fall to the floor in suspicious circumstances - has Mina been sharing the tips from his book?
4 added minutes.
The ball from Muñoz is spectacular but the header from close range flies just over!
DURAN OVER THE BAR
Rincón trips James and Colombia have the chance to run down the clock even further.
We're into the last minute.
Sinisterra tries and fails to win a free-kick after a weak challenge from Martínez.
Sinisterra ON
Díaz OFF
Yerry Mina reaches into his pocket and pulls out the Book of Dark Arts, which he reads intensely before letting the ball roll all the way back to the goalkeeper, taking precious seconds off the clock.
Jame span on a sixpence and played to the left where Díaz was waiting. The winger danced inside, outside then inside before whipping a far-post effort just wide of the goal.
DÍAZ JUST WIDE
A series of corners and crosses are just about defended by Colombia as Venezuela remember they are one goal down.
Barrios ON
Uribe OFF
All of a sudden, surely due to the fact I have just typed it out, Venezuela awaken from their slumber and attack Colombia like fierce wild canines.
James has a delightful cross cleared by the Venezuela defence who. have found it difficult to get any sort of momentum going in this half - that early goal really knocked the stuffing out of them.
Otero ON
Machis OFF
Duran is brought down by new boy Rosales on the right side of the middle third. A chance for Colombia to run the clock down even further.
The free-kick goes into the box and Luis Díaz, who has made a late run inside, sees his header fly well wide.
Rosales and Marqués ON
Rondon and Mago OFF
As soon as I type that, Rondon goes on a ludicrous 30-metre sprint with the ball. Maybe they're just storing their energy for the final 10 minutes...
The Venezuela players look dead on their feet: they've certainly done some chasing of the ball!
James and Duran ON
Arias and Borré OFF
A Colombia counter attack is wasted as nobody takes the opportunity to shoot, eventually giving Venezuela enough time to get back and smother the bodies.
James Rodríguez is about to come on.
Twenty minutes to go.
Lucumi saves the day with a massive hoof up field as Venezuela come out of nowhere to put the Colombia defence under paralysing pressure.
Díaz got in behind the defence and instead of cutting back to where two strikers were waiting, he decided to go for an outrageous chipped effort from an extremely tight angle that landed on the roof of the goal.
Never mind, offside anyway.
HUGE CHANCE WASTED BY DÍAZ
Soteldo is brought down by Uribe and Venezuela get a much needed breather.
Arias floats another pass from the corner of the box over, this time to the far post. Carrascal hits the volley but his effort goes just wide.
CARRASCAL COMES CLOSE!
Mr Monster Referee blows for a foul against Venezuela as they launch an attack. Lerma was clattered by Martínez.
Colombia attack again, this time with Machado, who sees his dangerous-looking cross blocked well by Osorio.
Uribe's through ball towards the goal scorer is just overhit and Venezuela, who are not handling the second half well so far, survive again.
Muñoz breaks down the right but his cross is well blocked by Venzuela's defenders.
Soteldo & Martínez ON
Savarino and Herrera OFF
Mexican wave alert. It's not all good news today.
I've just seen a replay of the goal and oh my, what a cross that is from Arias.
A perfectly placed floated ball from the corner of the box towards Borré next to the penalty spot.
Díaz comes to life and finds Borré in the centre but the goalkeeper is wary of the shot and comes out to stop the danger.
CHANCE FOR COLOMBIA
Colombia defender Yerry Mina watches his simply terrible pass out towards the right-back zip across the turf and smash the advertising board at least 5 yards away from Muñoz.
A poor pass by Carrascal from the centre circle weaves through the lines but it is well overhit and flies out for a goal kick.
Venezuela see their free-kick on the left cleared by the strong defence in yellow; Colombia certainly have their tails up after that goal.
What a frantic start to the game!
Colombia attack again and this time it's Arias who gets down the left but his cross is cleared by Osorio.
The ball immediately goes out to the right side as Venezuela fall asleep and it's fired into the box by Muñoz... Borré meets it and smashes a header past Romo from the penalty spot!
WHAT A START
Carrascal ON
Cuadrado OFF
And we're off again!
Second half underway!
We had to wait a long time for Colombia to come out onto the pitch...
We're still waiting for Colombia to return to the field...
Venezuela and the entire stadium are all waiting!
A special set of visitors in the stadium
Colombia's Women's Team have come to support the men's side for the game!
Half-time report:
The game has been, despite the possession factor, a very even contest.
Both sides have had chances and while Venezuela have not had what one might call a moment of dominance, they have managed to scare Colombia into a variety of mistakes at the back.
The best chance of the game came for the away side, when a lightning-fast break down the right saw a ball floated in towards Herrera, but his effort flew just over the bar.
Colombia saw a potential penalty turned down after a quick VAR check, but apart from that, they have had all of the ball, but none of the bite.
Venezuela's defensive block has worked well for the majority of the game and their ability to double up on Díaz has kept the creative fulcrum of the home side fairly quiet.
HALF TIME!
No goals at the break!
Cuadrado and Muños linked up superbly well to get down the right and the ball was fired low towards Romo, who sent his save back into the box!
Luckily for Venezuela, Mago managed to swipe the ball clear before Borré could get a toe on it from a yard out!
HUGE CHANCE FOR COLOMBIA
3 added minutes.
Muñoz steps in just in time as Venezuela break like race horses down the right; a few nice passes end with Savarino's cross-field ball that is cut out by the defender on the edge of Vargas' box.
These fouls from both sides are getting tasty now. Venezuela currently have Colombia penned into their pwn defensive third and are not letting them out.
5 minutes of normal time to go!
A late, late challenge from Cuadrado on Herrera sees... no card given!
A strange decision, in my opinion, but I'm not arguing with the ref today. He'll crush me like a cranberry.
NO PENALTY!
The referee waves on.
A possible penalty for handball it seems.
Lerma and Herrera start to push and shove each other, causing the giant referee to step in an instantly put an end to things, as you might imagine.
Venezuela's press activates into crazy mode when Colombia get within 20 yards of goal, it's like a final scene from a ghostbusters movie, just white shirts flying everywhere in all directions.
Shorts Man, González, wasbooked for the foul earlier on.
Seriously, his shorts are pulled really high up his thighs.
Arias has a free-kick for Colombia on the left side, close to the technical areas.
Easily cleared.
One touch too many between Borré and Muñoz on the right allows Venezuela time to get back and clear the ball before the shot is fired off but Colombia did excellently well there to work some space in a tight area.
Venezuela defend well and push the home side's defenders back form where they came.
Colombia win a free kick close to halfway: Cuadrado will launch it into the box...
We're back underway after a slight stoppage: the goalkeeper is OK to continue. Colombia back with the possession.
The shot/cross was fierce from Rincón and it looks like Vargas has done some damage.
VARGAS PUNCHES AWAY
Colombia's heads are not in the game. Another cheap foul is given away, this time close to the corner flag and it's a great chance for the away side...
Venezuela launch a counter attack after another mistake from Colombia.
Machis latches onto a loose ball, works it out to the left and hits an effort towards goal that is deflected wide.
MACHIS FIRES OVER THE BAR FROM CLOSE RANGE
A wonderful move from Díaz, who worked the ball inwards from the left before a wall pass with Borré was ruled offside... after the Liverpool winger had stuck the ball past Romo. Stadium silenced.
UP GOES THE FLAG!
OFFSIDE
Eek. Herrera almost gets in as Colombia get all muddled up at the back inside their own box.
I suspect the relaxed possession in the early stages has made them a little too calm on the ball.
A wonderful move is worked down the right as Shorts Man plays in Osorio, whose cross is met by Herrera, but the header goes just wide of the goal and Colombia survive.
BIG CHANCE FOR VENEZUELA
A poor touch from Martínez sees a potential attack break down as Diaz against was caught playing another sloppy pass into the middle.
AND THE HEADER GOES JUST OVER!
Shorts man, González, gets a diving header in but it spins just over the bar.
Venezuela have a free-kick on their left side, just in the attacking half of the pitch...
González in the Venezuela defence has rolled his shorts up his legs like he's on the beach. It must be working, as he's just jumped in beautifully to stop Luis Díaz from breaking down the left side of the pitch.
A half chance as Cuadrado slides a pass into the box from the right that almost reaches Borré, but it's well cleared.
Ángel does very well to intercept a ball over the top aimed towards Díaz, who already had lightning bolts shooting from his heels as he gathered speed...
The task ahead for Colombia is beginning to dawn on the front players, who are gradually dropping deeper and deeper in order to try and find atouch of the ball.
Savarino steals and tries his luck from distance, but the effort zooms over the bar.
For the first time in the game, Venezuela get their chance to play the ball around. It flies long towards Herrera but Mina does well to close him down.
Colombia creep closer to the away team's goal, but there are so many shite shirts squashed inside the box together it looks like a marshmallow factory.
Romo catches a long cross from the right side that was heading absolutely nowhere. The lack of a Venezuelan press up top means more bodies in the middle third, which is just what the long ball tired to avoid.
Venezuela are officially not pressing any of Colombia's back line, and the home side are not complaining about that.
Díaz goes down in the box but Mr Machine - the referee - says no foul.
Colombia must have put together a 35+ pass move there, and it ended when Arias broke through Venezuela's midfield to find Borré, who played to the overlapping Díaz on the left.
Mina turns around to face his own goal and Rondon chases him downferociously, causing the centre-back to momentarily hit the panic button. Never turn your back on a bear, that's rule one...
So far it's Colombia with all of the ball: Venezuela are not pressing their back line which is giving the home team a lot of early touches on halfway.
Machis gets on the end of a terrible Díaz cross-field ball and Venezuela launch their first attack.
The ball is switched to the left and the very-attacking Machado gets his first touches against Osorio.
And we're off!
Colombia get us going with a fast attack down the right...
WOW!
The two national anthems were genuinely spine-tingling!
The kits look delightful...
Colombia are in yellow shirts, blue shorts and red socks; Venezuela are in a delightful all-white kit.
There's a lovely green grass effect on the floor of the tunnel...
We're ready to go!
Here come the teams!
Venezuela XI:
GK: Romo
DEF: Osorio - González - Mago - Angel
MID: Martinez - Rincon - Herrera - Savarino
ATT: Machis - Rondon
Fifteen minutes to go!
The teams are finishing their warmups and are getting ready to go down the tunnel for the final team talks!
RAUL MARTINEZ / AFP
Who's the ref?
The man with the whistle is 42-year-old Brazilian, AndersonDaronco, who looks like he could lift 42 Amazonian trees with one hand.
They say he can run 40 metres in less than six seconds, and I’m not going to dispute that. It will be a brave soul whoever argues with him this evening…
PEDRO MATTEY / AFP
Venezuela's World Cup record:
Venezuela have never actually qualified for the FIFA World Cup and, following Ecuador’s qualification to the 2002 tournament held in South Korea and Japan, they remain the only CONMEBOL team never to have made it past the qualification round and into the tournament finals.
This is why they have been known as the Ceninienta - the Cinderella - of South American football.
COLOMBIA STARTING XI:
Thank you to the lovely human behind the screen at Colombia's Twitter account, who have provided us with a delightful tactical layout of the side.
Vargas gets the call between the sticks, as predicted.
Marcos Brindicci / Reuters
World Cup - Group H
Colombia failed to qualify for the last World Cup, which was seen as a disaster, given the huge amount of talent they have in the squad and the history that the team has at the showpiece event.
Their best-ever finish at the World Cup came at Brazil 2014, when a James Rodríguez-inspired side made it to the quarter-finals, and the little magician scored *that* goal against Uruguay before they lost to the hosts in the next round.
It took me A LOT of scrolling past Linda Caicedo to find this photo.
Rodrigo Valle / Getty Images
Venezuela's manager:
Venezuela’s manager is another Argentine: FernandoBatista.
The 53-year-old has taken charge of 4 games, winning 3 and drawing one.
Prior to taking over at Venezuela, he was in charge of the Argentina u20 and u23 sides.
He spent all of his career in Argentina and did not play for Swindon.
The dressing room is ready!
Colombia are, as expected, playing in their gorgeous home strip with that famous yellow shirt.
If the game is a mess, at least things will look nice.
Where is the game going to be played?
The Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez was opened in 1986 and is definitely one to try and say with a mouth full of water.
The behemoth of a ground has a capacity of 46,700 and was originally built for the Colombian World Cup bid.
It is the largest stadium in Colombia and is the official home of the national team.
issei Kato / Reuters
Who are the managers? Colombia...
Interestingly, both managers remain unbeaten since taking over their respective teams within the last 12 months.
Néstor Lorenzo is the Colombia manager: a former player, the Argentine has overseen 8 games with his current side, winning 6 and drawing 2.
Lorenzo played for Argentina at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where the side got to the final, losing to Germany.
If you can guess which English club he played for, I'll give you a virtual high ten.
Swindon. I bet you had no idea.
Colombia's squad are up for the challenge!
You might recognise a few famous faces in that squad such as Juan Cuadrado, James Rodríguez, Yerry Mina and Luis Sinisterra (more on him later).
We've got no team news just yet but as soon as we do, I'll let you lovely people kow.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is on the way!
The 2026 World Cup, as you may well know, is set to be spread across 3 different nations.
The USA, Canada and Mexico will all play a part in hosting games for the tournament, with the Estadio Azteca the location for the curtain raising game.
As for the final, although not confirmed, it looks as though Dallas TX will be where we will see the winner crowned.
The image above is the new, erm, logo for the tournament. I do not know who got paid to make it or how much they earned in doing so, but if you at home know, please tweet me @j4brennan, as I'd like a word.
Venezuela team news:
It's pretty quiet on the injury front for both sides, to be honest.
Jhon Murillo has not travelled with the squad and Ronald Hernández has not either.
This is the end of the team news.
Colombia team news:
The big news for Colombia is that captain and talisman David Ospina is out of action, meaning that Camilo Vargas is likely to start the match.
Apart from that, they’re all set to rock and roll.
Welcome!
Hello and welcome to the ASUSA live coverage of Colombia vs Venezuela!
Today is the first step on a long road to World Cup 2026 qualification - and we’re ready to guide you through the action!
It’s Joe here today to take you through the football as it happens. I must say, I'm as excited as a small child in a pet shop.