Colombia readies for World Cup 2026 with fan zones and travel perks

Barranquilla has been selected by the Colombian Football Federation to host “La Casa de la Sele” on the Gran Malecón, offering a free fan zone with giant screens, cultural activities, food stalls and meet‑ups with football personalities. Organisers expect more than 20,000 people to attend each of the three scheduled days (June 17, 23 and 27) to watch the national team’s group‑stage matches.

Telecom firm Claro and travel‑insurance provider Assist Card announced a joint programme for Colombian supporters travelling to the United States, Mexico and Canada. The scheme includes up to 45 % discounts on Claro’s travel assistance products, daily mobile‑data packages (e.g., $6.90 USD for enterprise customers, $8.90 USD for individuals) and the AC CUP 500 insurance plan, which automatically extends coverage if Colombia advances in the tournament.

Bogotá’s mayoral office intensified inspections of night‑time venues during the World Cup, closing bars in Usme after finding expired beer and other regulatory breaches, aiming to keep public order as crowds gather to celebrate.

The city will also host the GovTech Summit 2026 on 3–4 November, bringing about 1,000 public‑sector leaders, tech startups and multilateral agencies to discuss digital transformation, AI and data governance for Latin‑American governments.

A complete group‑stage schedule has been published for Colombian viewers, with matches broadcast on DSPORTS, Caracol, RCN, Win Sports and Disney+. Colombia’s fixtures include games against Uzbekistan (June 17) and other opponents throughout June.