Colombia reaches the decisive stage of its presidential election this Sunday following a campaign marked by the first-round victory of candidate Abelardo de la Espriella over the incumbent-aligned Iván Cepeda, as well as various controversies—such as U.S. interference, the politicization of the national soccer team’s jersey, and the frenziedly prominent role played by President Gustavo Petro.
All polls predict a victory for the presidential ticket of the Defensores de la Patria (Defenders of the Homeland) movement, led by De la Espriella—a self-styled Colombian political “outsider” who has faced renewed scrutiny during the campaign regarding alleged ties to paramilitary groups.
The far-right candidate, who polled at barely 20% earlier in the year, is now hovering around 50% ahead of Sunday’s vote; in his best-case scenario, he stands nearly eight percentage points ahead of Cepeda—who is polling at around 44%—while the blank vote exceeds 6%.
The 41 million registered Colombian voters must once again choose between two diametrically opposed visions for the country, amidst stark polarization evidenced by the results of the May first round. In that vote, De la Espriella beat Cepeda by 660,000 votes, alongside more than 406,000 blank ballots, 245,000 null votes, and an abstention rate involving 17 million people.
Unlike in other places, non-voters in Colombia tend to lean toward the political center; this is the direction Cepeda has taken by moderating his tone, forging alliances with former candidate Claudia López, and adjusting his platform—even going so far as to abandon his plans to reform the Constitution. For his part, De la Espriella enjoys the backing of other Conservative candidates—such as Paloma Valencia, who placed third in the first round—as well as that of her political mentor, former President Álvaro Uribe. Yet, undoubtedly, the most high-profile support comes from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has twice expressed his preference for “El Tigre” (The Tiger), as the candidate calls himself.
Trump’s return to the White House has also signaled a return to greater interference by Washington in recent electoral processes across South America—seen in Bolivia, or quite openly in Honduras and Colombia.
Trump has heaped praise on De la Espriella and suggested that good relations between the two countries will hinge on his victory. For his part, the Colombian candidate has made it clear that he shares Washington’s policies for combating drug trafficking and organized crime.
However, the Colombian president has also faced criticism for his involvement in the campaign—thereby violating the principle of independence expected of a head of state—to the point where a judge ordered him to desist after accepting a citizen-filed legal petition.
Petro has also faced scrutiny for vehemently questioning the first-round results and suggesting the possibility of fraud—theories that his political heir has not endorsed.
THE NATIONAL TEAM JERSEY: A RECURRING THEME
In Colombia—with the exception of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, held late in the year due to climate considerations—the planet’s biggest soccer event coincides with the presidential elections. This historic overlap often helps to ease tensions and unite the citizenry following an election campaign that tends to be deeply divisive, much like the current one. However, no other instance comes to mind where the national football team’s jersey has burst onto the scene so disruptively; the ruling establishment has warned that De la Espriella is attempting to “hijack” a symbol representing all Colombians—and doing so precisely while the team is competing in the World Cup in North America.
Colombian authorities ordered De la Espriella and his team to stop using these symbols during the campaign—an order they ignored—following a complaint alleging that such use linked these national emblems to a specific candidacy. Ultimately, a subsequent ruling overturned this ban.
The far-right candidate has also freely utilized imagery of the Armed Forces, repeatedly urging them to fulfill their duty should the ruling establishment refuse to accept his victory.
The jersey thus finds itself at the center of political debate—amidst a major health crisis in Colombia, where the long-standing role of private companies as healthcare intermediaries is under scrutiny and Petro’s reform has been shelved after more than a year of congressional deadlock—as well as a security crisis, given that the country remains one of the most violent in the region.
Over the past five years, armed groups have doubled their membership—most notably the Clan del Golfo—while Petro’s ambitious peace policy has run up against the harsh reality that drug trafficking, the true engine driving these dynamics, remains far more lucrative than the alternatives offered by the State, despite significant social improvements.
The “iron fist” approach proposed by De la Espriella to combat these groups—backed by Washington’s policies—contrasts with Cepeda’s strategy. Cepeda advocates for fully implementing the agreements signed with the now-defunct FARC guerrilla group in Havana back in 2016 and for revising Petro’s “total peace” plan, addressing the “gaps, missteps, and errors” that need to be rectified.
Whoever becomes the next president will have to take their campaign promises to a Congress where the pro-government Historic Pact (Pacto Histórico) is the largest political force in both chambers, followed by the Democratic Center (Centro Democrático). This points to significant polarization, in which other traditional parties—such as the Liberals and Conservatives—will play a decisive role in forming majorities and potential governing coalitions.
2026 FIFA World Cup: Detailed standings summary as of June 20, 2026
The 2026 World Cup group stage is taking shape, and some teams are already very close to securing their spot in the Round of 32. The new 48-team format allows the top two teams from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, to advance.
The strongest teams so far
🇲🇽 Mexico (Group A)
“El Tri” is one of the few teams with a perfect record. They have won both their matches without conceding a goal and comfortably lead their group with 6 points. A win—or even a draw—against Czechia would all but guarantee them the top spot.
🇺🇸 United States (Group D)
The host nation has been one of the tournament’s standout performers. They beat Paraguay 4–1 and subsequently Australia 2–0, amassing 6 points and a goal difference of +5. They are a strong contender to advance convincingly.
🇧🇷 Brazil (Group C)
After drawing with Morocco, the Canarinha defeated Haiti 3–0 and took the lead in the group. Although the result was emphatic, pundits have noted that Carlo Ancelotti’s team still has areas for improvement.
Group standings
Group A
Mexico – 6 pts
South Korea – 3 pts
Czechia – 1 pt
South Africa – 1 pt
Mexico has one foot in the next round. South Korea controls its own destiny regarding qualification.
Group B
Canada – 4 pts
Switzerland – 4 pts
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 1 pt
Qatar – 1 pt
Canada and Switzerland dominate the group and will decide the top spot on the final matchday.
Group C
Brazil – 4 pts
Morocco – 4 pts
Scotland – 3 pts
Haiti – 0 pts
This is one of the most competitive groups. Brazil, Morocco, and Scotland all still have a chance to qualify directly. Group D
United States – 6 pts
Australia – 3 pts
Paraguay – 3 pts
Turkey – 0 pts
The United States has all but qualified. Australia and Paraguay will battle for the second qualifying spot.
Group E
Germany – 3 pts
Ivory Coast – 3 pts
Ecuador – 0 pts
Curaçao – 0 pts
Germany impressed with a historic 7-1 victory over Curaçao. Today, they face Ivory Coast in one of the day’s most compelling matches.
Group F
Sweden – 3 pts
Japan – 1 pt
Netherlands – 1 pt
Tunisia – 0 pts
Sweden surprised everyone with a 5-1 rout of Tunisia and currently leads the group.
Group G
New Zealand – 1 pt
Iran – 1 pt
Belgium – 1 pt
Egypt – 1 pt
The most evenly matched group in the tournament. All teams are tied following the opening round.
Group H
Uruguay – 1 pt
Saudi Arabia – 1 pt
Spain – 1 pt
Cape Verde – 1 pt
Another wide-open group where any team could finish at the top.
Group I
Norway – 3 pts
France – 3 pts
Senegal – 0 pts
Iraq – 0 pts
Norway surprised with a commanding 4-1 victory over Iraq, while France defeated Senegal.
Group J
Argentina – 3 pts
Austria – 3 pts
Jordan – 0 pts
Algeria – 0 pts
La Albiceleste made a strong start by beating Algeria 3-0.
Group K
Colombia – 3 pts
DR Congo – 1 pt
Portugal – 1 pt
Uzbekistan – 0 pts
Colombia kicked off with an important 3-1 win over Uzbekistan and leads a highly competitive group where Portugal is still looking to find its stride. Group L
England – 3 pts
Ghana – 3 pts
Panama – 0 pts
Croatia – 0 pts
England defeated Croatia 4–2 and is emerging as the favorite to win the group.
Key matches today (June 20)
🇳🇱 Netherlands vs. Sweden
🇩🇪 Germany vs. Ivory Coast
🇪🇨 Ecuador vs. Curaçao
These matches could begin to determine which teams qualify from Groups E and F.
Favorites that have made the best impression
⭐ United States
⭐ Mexico
⭐ Germany
⭐ Brazil
⭐ Argentina
⭐ England
Although there is still a lot of group stage action left to play, these teams have displayed the most convincing football during the opening days of the 2026 World Cup.
