Uncertainty surrounds James Rodriguez before his last World Cup

There are less than 175 days until the Colombian national team makes its debut at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The Tricolor are one of the fancied sides and the tournament will inevitably be the last for James Rodríguez, team captain and key Colombian player of this generation. With the countdown well under way ahead of June 2026, the number 10 has approximately six months to reach peak physical condition for the tournament.

After his contract with Club León ended, the 34-year-old has an uncertain future ahead and stands at a crossroads with interest in his services have come from Mexico, the US and Brazil.

The captain’s objective is clear: to accumulate as many minutes as possible in these six months to reach a competitive rhythm suitable for a World Cup. “Big things are coming for everyone, for the whole country too. The World Cup is almost here and we all dream of becoming champions,” he stated a few weeks ago.

What will the future hold for James?

In recent weeks, Pumas UNAM has emerged as the team with the best chance of acquiring the number 10. Despite this, their management has denied having active negotiations for the Colombian’s transfer. “I haven’t spoken with anyone; I have to focus on the planning,” stated the vice president of the Mexican club.

He has also received inquiries from MLS, but without any formal offers. Orlando City are the main MLS side that have the player on their shortlist, although there were reports that Toronto FC were also keen on pursuing the midfielder.

Finally, Flamengo, the current Copa Libertadores champion, and Rio de Janeiro giants have reportedly monitored the situation of the number 10 over the past few weeks. As with Pumas and Orlando City, there are no formal negotiations underway.

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