France‘s decision to have Mbappe out of the starting lineup has nothing to do with health concerns. Instead, Didier Deschamps is looking to give the rest of the squad an opportunity to showcase themselves in the last friendly of the FIFA international break in March.

The French national team will put together a completely different lineup from it’s last outing, when Mbappe propelled France past Brazil at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Every player that started that game will now be on the bench, and Mbappe is no exception. Still, the French star could make his way to the field if his team needs him against Colombia.

Mbappe’s stats with national team

According to Transfermarkt, Mbappe has played 95 games for France’s senior team, scoring 56 goals for “Les Bleus”. Most likely, he will play his 100th game for France during the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, as Mbappe chases his second world championship and his country’s third.

Mbappe set to welcome new coach

So far in his career, Mbappe has only had one manager at the international level. With Deschamps set to leave France after the World Cup, Mbappe is in for a new experience when a new manager takes over the French national team.

According to a report from ESPN, Zinedine Zidane has reached a verbal agreement to be the next manager, meaning two of the best players to ever represent France could soon be working together in a player-coach dynamic.

Colombia tried to respond after going down early, pressing high and creating a few chances, including a strong opportunity for Luis Diaz that was blocked by Jonathan Lacroix. France’s defense held firm, while the French attack remained dangerous on counters.

The match also saw key substitutions, including the introduction of Kylian Mbappe for France, who tested Colombia’s backline. Colombia will take lessons from this friendly ahead of upcoming fixtures, while France leaves Northwest Stadium confident and prepared for future challenges in the World Cup.

[Watch Colombia vs France online in the US on Fubo]

A marquee international friendly clash is on deck as Colombia looks to rebound from a 2-1 setback against Croatia, stepping into a far tougher test against France. Led by star winger Luis Diaz, Colombia aims to regain momentum.

However, the challenge won’t get any bigger than this against World Cup runner-up France, who enters fresh off a statement 2-1 win over Brazil and continues to look every bit like a title contender behind Kylian Mbappe, who is starting on the bench today against Colombia.

When will the Colombia vs France match be played?

Colombia take on France in a 2026 friendly game this Sunday, March 29, with the match kicking off at 3:00 PM (ET). Follow our liveblog of Colombia vs France and don’t miss a single thing!

Colombia vs France: Time by State in the USA

ET: 3:00 PM
CT: 2:00 PM
MT: 1:00 PM
PT: 12:00 PM

How to watch Colombia vs France in the USA

This Friendly clash between Colombia and France will be available for viewers in the USA on Fubo. Other options: DirecTV Stream and ESPN Deportes.

Momentum is split heading into this afternoon’s kickoff: Colombia are looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Croatia, while France arrive brimming with confidence following a dominant victory over Brazil.

All eyes would be on James Rodriguez. The Colombian captain remains the focal point of Nestor Lorenzo’s squad, despite a quiet outing against Croatia.

Confirmed lineups for Colombia and France

In addition to the creativity of James and Luis Diaz, Lorenzo is making a change between the posts. Alvaro Montero will replace Camilo Vargas, whose costly error led to Croatia’s second goal last match.

Colombia: Montero; Munoz, Sanchez, Cabal, Mojica; Lerma, Rios; Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Suarez.

Didier Deschamps tinkered much with the XI that dismantled Brazil. The were several changes in defense, where Lucas Digne will step in for Lucas Hernandez. Also, one of the surprises is Kylian Mbappe not starting today as Deschamps is rotating players against Colombia.

France: Samba; Kalulu,, Lacroix, T. Hernandez, Digne; Kante, Zaire-Emery; Akilouche, Cherki, Doue; Thuran.

H2H: Colombia vs France

This marks the fourth friendly meeting between these two nations. France took the first two encounters with a narrow 1-0 win, but Colombia famously stunned the French at the Parc des Princes with a 3-2 comeback victory in their last meeting.

Colombia dominated the ball with 60% possession and several promising attacks, yet Croatia proved more clinical, converting two of their key opportunities. Luis Diaz and Luis Suarez had moments of brilliance for Colombia, while Dominik Livakovic made several important saves to keep the European side ahead.

In the closing stages, Colombia pushed hard for an equalizer, generating dangerous free kicks and crosses into the box. Despite their pressure and substitutions to add attacking options, Croatia held firm to secure the 2-1 victory. Both teams will take lessons from the encounter as they continue their World Cup preparations.

[Watch Colombia vs Croatia live in the USA on Fubo]

Colombia come into this match after a strong CONMEBOL qualifying campaign, finishing third with 28 points, only behind Argentina and Ecuador. They have shown consistency and competitiveness, and in their last outing, they secured a convincing 3-0 win over Australia in a friendly, leaving a positive impression on both ends of the field.

Croatia, meanwhile, are preparing for their fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, having finished second and third in 2018 and 2022. Zlatko Dalic’s squad, still led by 40-year-old midfielder Luka Modric, qualified dominantly by topping UEFA Group L with a six-point margin, winning seven of eight matches.

Colombia confirmed lineup

Nestor Lorenzo will go with a strong lineup for this friendly, using it as an important test ahead of what is to come. He will rely on the strong form of forward Luis Diaz, who is enjoying an outstanding campaign with Bayern Munich, while captain James Rodriguez is set to reach his 123rd international appearance. However, they have a notable absence, as defender Yerry Mina is not part of the squad.

In addition to Yerry Mina, Portilla and Asprilla were not called up. Colombia will line up as follows: Camilo Vargas; Daniel Munoz, Davinson Sanchez, Jhon Lucumi, Johan Mojica; Jefferson Lerma, Richard Rios, Jhon Arias, James Rodriguez; Luis Diaz, Luis Suarez.

Croatia confirmed lineup

Croatia also arrive with important absences and hope to have those players available for the World Cup. Still, they are expected to adjust accordingly, as Gvardiol and Kovacic are out due to injury.

Croatia will line up as follows: Dominik Livakovic; Nikola Vlasic, Igor Matanovic, Martin Erlic, Mario Pongracic; Nikola Moro, Petar Sucic, Luka Vuskovic, Mario Pasalic; Ivan Perisic, Marco Pasalic.

[Watch Colombia vs Croatia online in the US on Fubo]

After a great UEFA WC qualifiers, Croatia continues to build toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup with confidence following a string of impressive global performances, using this matchup to uphold its high standard against a strong CONMEBOL side

Colombia, on the other hand, looks to steady the ship after inconsistent results in CONMEBOL WC Qualifiers by regaining rhythm and refining its squad—making this an intriguing international clash you won’t want to miss.

When will the Colombia vs Croatia match be played?

Colombia play against Croatia in a 2026 friendly game this Thursday, March 26, with the match kicking off at 7:30 PM (ET).

Colombia vs Croatia: Time by State in the USA

ET: 7:30 PM
CT: 6:30 PM
MT: 5:30 PM
PT: 4:30 PM

How to watch Colombia vs Croatia in the USA

This Friendly clash between Colombia and Croatia will be available for viewers in the USA on Fubo. Other options: DirecTV Stream, FS2 and ViX.

After rough opening performances, Argentina and Colombia are desperate to steady the ship as tournament play continues. The Albiceleste were stunned 2-0 by the United States in a result few saw coming.

Meanwhile, Colombia had tougher debut, surrendering a 4-1 loss to Canada. With both sides searching for their first points and momentum at stake, expect a high-intensity showdown as each team looks to get its campaign back on track.

When will the Argentina vs Colombia match be played?

Argentina will face Colombia in the Matchday 2 of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup this Wednesday, March 4, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 PM (ET).

Argentina vs Colombia: Time by State in the USA

ET: 3:30 PM
CT: 2:30 PM
MT: 1:30 PM
PT: 12:30 PM

How to watch Argentina vs Colombia in the USA

Don’t miss a single minute of this 2026 SheBelieves Cup clash between Argentina and Colombia live in the United States on UNIVERSO, truTV USA and HBO Max.

Brazil U20 couldn’t have scripted a better start to the final stage, rolling past Paraguay U20 3-1 to seize the early lead in the standings on goal difference over Ecuador U20. The dominant performance underscored their attacking quality and put the rest of the field on notice.

Now they’ll look to stay on top against a Colombia U20 side coming off a loss to Ecuador and desperate for a win to keep its championship hopes alive, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash.

When will the Colombia U20 vs Brazil U20 match be played?

Colombia U20 take on Brazil U20 in the Matchday 2 of the 2026 CONMEBOL U20 Women’s Sudamericano final stage this Thursday, February 19, with kickoff set for 6:00 PM (ET).

Colombia U20 vs Brazil U20: Time by State in the USA

ET: 6:00 PM
CT: 5:00 PM
MT: 4:00 PM
PT: 3:00 PM

How to watch Colombia U20 vs Brazil U20 in the USA

Catch this 2026 CONMEBOL U20 Women’s Sudamericano clash between Colombia U20 and Brazil U20 live in the United States on ViX.

The conversation took place in a video with content creator Reysa, who asked Julian to name his favorite players from several countries, including Spain, Germany, Uruguay, France, Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina, with one clear rule: he was not allowed to choose Lionel Messi.

The Atletico de Madrid forward ultimately selected Pedri for Spain, Jamal Musiala for Germany, Luis Suarez for Uruguay, Antoine Griezmann for France, Juan Fernando Quintero for Colombia, Neymar for Brazil, and Enzo Fernandez for Argentina.

Julian’s selections reflected a blend of established stars and players from his own generation. Pedri and Musiala have already proven themselves at the highest level despite their young age, while Enzo Fernandez has been a close teammate for Julian with Argentina and during their shared connection to River Plate earlier in their careers.

Possible reasons for not choosing Mbappe, Yamal, and James

The most striking aspect of the list was the absence of Mbappe, who is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world and a global superstar. However, choosing Griezmann made sense, given his historical importance to France and his strong connection to Atletico de Madrid, where Julian now plays.

In the case of Lamine Yamal, the explanation appears to be stylistic and experiential. While Yamal is still developing and has enormous potential, Pedri is already a fully established midfielder with a refined style, serving as a central figure for both Barcelona and Spain.

As for Colombia, the decision to favor Juan Fernando Quintero over James Rodriguez raised eyebrows, but it carries a clear emotional context. Quintero is closely linked to River Plate, Julian’s boyhood club, and left an indelible mark with legendary performances, most notably in the 2018 Copa Libertadores final at the Santiago Bernabeu against Boca Juniors, a moment that remains iconic in South American soccer history.

Colombia will face a mix of established and emerging teams in their group. Their scheduled opponents include Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as one of the world’s elite national teams.

Uzbekistan, a team with a growing international presence, and the winner of a playoff bracket that could feature nations such as DR Congo, Jamaica, or New Caledonia.

Colombia’s Group K schedule

Colombia’s group-stage matches are confirmed and scheduled as follows, giving fans a clear picture of Los Cafeteros’ path through Group K:

• Match 1: Colombia vs Uzbekistan — Date: June 17 — Venue: Mexico City — Time: 22:00 ET
• Match 2: Colombia vs Playoff Winner (DR Congo / Jamaica / New Caledonia) — Date: June 23 — Venue Guadalajara — Time: 22:00 ET
• Match 3: Colombia vs Portugal — Date: June 27 — Venue: Miami — Time: 19:30 ET