The World Cup is three months away and nobody is here to mess around.
This is the Road to 26 series. Four top national teams, three American cities, and a set of friendlies that feel about as far from meaningless as a friendly can get. Colombia and Croatia are both already qualified, both already dreaming about deep tournament runs, and both badly need to answer some serious questions before the real thing kicks off this summer.
Colombia have not lost since March 2025. Nine games unbeaten, including a 3-0 dismantling of Australia in November. They qualified third in CONMEBOL behind only Argentina and Ecuador, scoring 28 goals along the way. Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez are leading a squad that is genuinely dangerous and full of belief.
Croatia have been equally impressive in their own corner of the world. Seven wins and one draw in qualifying, topping UEFA Group L without dropping a single point. The golden generation is getting older. Modric and Perisic have a combined age of 77, which sounds like a retirement plan rather than a football team, but Croatia keep finding ways to compete. The question is whether the younger players around them are ready when it matters.
This is the first meeting between these two nations. Nobody knows exactly what to expect. That is what makes it so interesting.
Photp credit ( Getty images)
Colombia vs Croatia: Key Stats
First ever meeting between these two nations
Colombia: Unbeaten in their last 9 international matches
Colombia: Won their last 4 friendlies including a 3-0 win over Australia in November
Colombia: Third in CONMEBOL qualifying with 28 points from 18 games
Croatia: Won 7 of 8 World Cup qualifiers, topping UEFA Group L with 22 points
Croatia: Conceded just 4 goals in 8 qualifying games
Croatia: Missing Gvardiol and Kovacic through injury
Colombia: Luis Diaz leads with 7 goals this season, James Rodriguez has 7 assists
Odds suggest under 2.5 goals is the most likely outcome
Photo Credit (Getty Images)
What to Expect
Colombia are the more settled and confident side coming into this. Lorenzo has found a system that works and stuck with it. James Rodriguez orchestrates from deep, Luis Diaz causes problems from the left, and the team defends with genuine collective discipline. They play in the USA regularly and are practically at home in Orlando. The question for Colombia is not whether they can compete with Croatia. It is whether this game gives Lorenzo the chance to test different combinations before the World Cup without compromising the team's momentum.
Croatia arrive with an experienced core but genuine questions about depth. Gvardiol and Kovacic are both absent through injury, two of their most important modern players, and Dalic needs his younger squad members to step up. Budimir leads the line in what is expected to be a youthful starting eleven, supported by Vlasic and Pasalic behind him. Modric will bring his usual intelligence and control if he plays but at 40, Dalic will be carefully managing his minutes. Croatia are well organised and hard to break down defensively but they are still figuring out what this team looks like without their best players available.
Predicted Lineups
Colombia (4-3-3)
Vargas; Arias, Sanchez, Lucumi, Cabal; Lerma, Rios, Quintero; Rodriguez, Diaz, Suarez
Croatia (4-3-3)
Letica; Jakic, Sutalo, Caleta-Car, Stanisic; Modric, Moro, Pasalic; Vlasic, Budimir, Perisic
Players to Watch
Luis Diaz - The Bayern Munich forward is Colombia's most dangerous attacker and one of the most exciting wide players in world football right now. Seven goals this season and playing with the confidence of a man who knows the World Cup is his stage. Croatia's right side will need to track him from the very first minute.
James Rodriguez - Seven assists this season and still the heartbeat of everything Colombia do. At 34 he reads the game better than ever and his ability to find Diaz and the forwards in dangerous positions is what makes Colombia genuinely threatening. Croatia's midfield will have to crowd him out to stop Colombia from controlling large parts of this game.
Luka Modric - Heading towards his 195th international cap at 40 years old. Every time you think this man is done, he turns up and reminds you that football intelligence never ages. If Dalic plays him, Croatia look like a different team. If he sits this one out, Croatia lose their compass entirely.
Nikola Vlasic - The most important younger Croatian player in this squad. Creative, technically confident, and capable of linking play between midfield and attack in the spaces Modric has traditionally occupied. Croatia's future runs through him and a performance here could define his World Cup squad chances.
Prediction
Colombia to win: 2.20
Croatia to win: 3.34
Draw: 3.38
Under 2.5 Goals: 1.84
Prediction: Colombia 2-0 Croatia
The data and the context both point the same way. Colombia are unbeaten in nine games, are practically playing at home in Orlando, and have a front line built around one of the form players in European football right now. Croatia are missing two of their best players, leaning on a squad that is either very old or still finding its feet, and facing a South American side with genuine World Cup momentum. Croatia's defensive discipline will make this difficult but Colombia's quality in the final third should be enough to win this comfortably and keep their remarkable unbeaten run going.
