Colombia bids farewell to World Cup 2026 after penalty shootout loss to Switzerland Colombia's national team was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after losing to Switzerland in a penalty shootout, a result that left Radamel Falcao furious. The former player harshly criticized the level of Colombian football, stating that the lack of competitiveness and mediocrity led to this elimination. Colombia reached the round of 16 with three wins, one draw, and one loss, but couldn't overcome Switzerland in the shootout. Last result: Colombia 3-0 Australia (2025-11-19). The team led by Néstor Lorenzo arrived at the World Cup in good form, with three wins, one draw, and one loss in their last five matches (3W-1D-1L). However, in the match against Switzerland, they managed only three shots on target in 120 minutes, showing their lack of effectiveness. ## What did Falcao say about the elimination? Radamel Falcao, now a commentator for ESPN, showed no mercy in analyzing Colombia's elimination. "It's a disgrace that our football lacks competitiveness and promotes mediocrity and laziness", he declared. Falcao also criticized the lack of infrastructure and investment in youth divisions, pointing out that "it's unacceptable that we don't have a C category". The former Atlético de Madrid player also highlighted that "in penalty shootouts, as many times before, our wings were clipped". Falcao believes Colombia must work on improving its football foundations to avoid more disappointments in the future. ## What's next for Colombia? After the elimination, John Arias and Cucho Hernández spoke about the future of the national team. Arias, a Palmeiras player, stated that "I hope today marks the beginning of a total change to reach the final day". Colombia must now focus on improving its youth development and preparing the next generation for future tournaments. The Colombian national team has a long road ahead to become competitive again on the international stage. With a record of three wins, one draw, and one loss in their last five matches, the team must work hard to improve its performance in future competitions.