The federation itself emphasized that his hospitalization was preventive and for recovery. At 34 years old, James Rodriguez is aiming to play in his third World Cup after his appearances in Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018, where he was one of the leaders of the Colombian team. However, his evolution in the coming days will be crucial to determine if he arrives in optimal conditions for the start of the tournament. Colombia fell to France in their last friendly. James Rodriguez's hospitalization comes after a difficult day for Colombia during the FIFA window. According to official information, the Colombian midfielder shows a 'favorable evolution and constant improvement', which has reduced the initial concern in both the technical staff and his circle. Additionally, the federation explained that the medical team maintains 'permanent and coordinated communication' with the player's current club, Minnesota United FC, with the objective of giving timely follow-up to his recovery. So far, there is no confirmed date for his return to activity, although it is expected that he will continue under medical supervision before gradually resuming training. For now, there is no diagnosis indicating that the player will be out of the tournament. The captain of the Colombian national team, James Rodriguez, was hospitalized for 72 hours in the United States after suffering from severe dehydration following the friendly match against France, a situation that raised alarms about his physical condition weeks before the 2026 World Cup. The Colombian Football Federation reported that the midfielder remained under medical supervision in Minnesota due to a condition that 'is not of a sporting nature'. The body detailed that the problem arose one day after the match against France, corresponding to the most recent FIFA window. According to the official statement, 'the player, the day after the match against France, presented a case of severe dehydration that required his hospitalization for the last 72 hours for preventive clinical monitoring and recovery'. The federation emphasized that the episode is not related to muscle injuries or football activity, but to a medical condition that forced the adoption of preventive measures to stabilize the player. James Rodriguez's medical report: What's next for the player? The report points to a positive scenario. His performance was rated as discreet by analysts and fans, who pointed to a lower incidence in the offensive play. This sporting context increases the attention on his physical condition, as the player is considered a key piece in the team's scheme. Colombia's schedule for the 2026 World Cup Before their World Cup debut, Colombia has two additional friendly matches scheduled. The team will face Costa Rica on May 29 and then Jordan on June 7. The South American team will begin its participation in the World Cup on June 17 against Uzbekistan, in Group K, which they share with the Portugal national team and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With information from EFE and AP. The team lost to France and also suffered a previous defeat against Croatia, results that generated questions about the collective functioning. In the match against the French team, played in Landover, Maryland, the midfielder played 63 minutes in the defeat.
