Barranquilla FC and América de Cali lead major shifts in Colombian football

Colombian football is seeing significant upsets in the Copa BetPlay 2026. Barranquilla FC, a second-division club, has emerged as a major disruptor by eliminating top-tier teams Junior de Barranquilla and Millonarios. The club, known for developing talents like Luis Díaz, secured its place in the tournament through a penalty shootout against Millonarios after a 1-1 draw.

In the Liga BetPlay, América de Cali secured a crucial 2-1 comeback victory against Llaneros FC at the Bello Horizonte stadium. Despite falling behind to a goal by Francisco Meza, América equalized through Daniel Valencia and secured the win in stoppage time with a header from Cristian Tovar. This victory brings América to 27 points, placing them on the verge of qualifying for the semifinals.

The recent results have highlighted a period of instability for several major clubs. Millonarios faces criticism following their exit from the cup, with captain David Mackalister Silva describing the performance as a “sporting shame.” Meanwhile, Junior de Barranquilla is struggling in the league, sitting in 17th place and requiring a near-perfect run of results to reach the cuadrangulares.