# Colombia national football team squad transition > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/colombia-national-football-team-squad-transition > Updated: 2026-09-24T00:44:02.000Z. Sources: 33. Developments: 2. The Colombia national football team has entered a transitional period following the retirement of James Rodríguez and Juan Fernando Quintero from international play. Head coach Néstor Lorenzo has announced a new 26-player squad to address the leadership and tactical changes within the team. In a significant leadership move, Lorenzo has appointed defender Davinson Sánchez as the new team captain, citing his “extensive experience and leadership within the squad” as the primary reason for the decision. This appointment signals the start of a generational transition as the team targets the 2028 Copa América and the 2030 World Cup. The roster includes 15 new players, featuring emerging talents such as Yáser Asprilla, Daniel Arcila, and Juan Manuel Rengifo. Tactical shifts are also evident in the defensive line, with Álvaro Angulo and Samuel Velásquez being called up to replace Johan Mojica and Déiver Machado at left-back. Star forward Luis Díaz was excluded from the initial call-up by mutual agreement to manage physical fatigue. To prepare for this new era, Colombia is scheduled to play a series of friendly matches in the United States. This includes a match against Mexico in Baltimore on September 26, followed by fixtures against Paraguay on October 2 in New Jersey and Peru on October 6 in Miami. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-24: Davinson Sánchez named Colombia captain following James Rodríguez retirement Davinson Sánchez has been named captain of the Colombia national football team, succeeding James Rodríguez following his retirement. The squad enters a new cycle starting with a friendly against Mexico. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombia-national-team-coach-nstor-lorenzo-announces-new-squad ### 2026-09-17: Colombia national team enters post-James Rodríguez era with new squad Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo has announced a 26-player squad for upcoming friendlies in the US, marking a new era following the retirement of James Rodríguez and the planned rest of Luis Díaz. 26 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombia-national-football-team-announces-new-26-player-squad --- Cite as: Colombia national football team squad transition. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/colombia-national-football-team-squad-transition