Colombia's national team experiences high levels of tension in decisive matches, and according to a survey by the Universidad Manuela Beltrán, 50.3% of those surveyed said they felt intense tension in key matches.

What happens to fans during matches?

The research indicated that the impact is not explained solely by the game, but by factors such as identity, pride, expectations, and how each person manages frustration after a lost match or with different results than expected.

How does frustration affect fans?

The study revealed that 75.5% of participants experienced those encounters with a moderate, high, or very high emotional charge, a fact that took on greater weight in the direct elimination phase, where each match defines the team's continuity or elimination, as in their last match Colombia 3-0 Australia (2025-11-19).

What can fans do to manage stress?

Kelly Guzmán, researcher at the Universidad Manuela Beltrán's Psychology Program, explained that football stops being just entertainment when the team becomes an extension of personal and collective values, and that individual tolerance to frustration is key to managing stress, especially in times of high tension like the ones Colombia's national team is experiencing, with a streak of 2 consecutive wins.

The survey indicated that many of the emotional reactions were associated with the bond that fans established with Colombia's national team, and that 27.4% of those surveyed acknowledged having reacted impulsively at least once during a match, with behaviors such as shouting, insulting, or hitting objects, which shows the great impact the team has on fans' lives, and the importance of finding healthy ways to manage stress and frustration, especially at a time when Colombia's national team is on a 3W-2D-0L streak in their last 5 matches.