It’s funny how a “friendly” between Mexico and Colombia can feel as reassuring as a handshake from a magician—smiling faces, but you never know what’s up the sleeve. When these two teams take the field at AT&T Stadium, don’t be fooled by the billing. Sure, there won’t be hardware on the line, but this is less a warm-up jog and more two prizefighters sparring with a little something to prove before the main event.
For Mexico, recent results read like a mystery novel—plenty of intrigue, a dash of drama, and an ending that won’t let anyone rest easy. Two draws on the bounce, against South Korea and Japan, did little to hush the murmurs about where the goals are going to come from if Raúl Jiménez isn’t moonlighting as both finisher and creator. Jiménez, with three goals and an assist this year, is still the man they look to when matches turn into a street fight. But he can’t do it alone, and even the great magicians need an assistant or two. Enter Santiago Giménez, coming off a late hero moment, and Hirving Lozano, who always seems one gallop ahead of the script.
Don’t sleep on their midfield, either. Luis Chávez and Erick Sánchez are quietly becoming the engine room that keeps everything humming. They’ll be vital against a Colombian unit that loves a good midfield tangle—think rush hour, but with more stepovers and less honking. The backline, marshaled by César Montes and Johan Vásquez, is stingy but not invincible, conceding 1.5 goals per game in friendlies this year. That’s the stat line of a team that’s secure but keeps checking over its shoulder.
Now, let’s talk about Colombia. You could draw a straight line from their recent World Cup qualification campaign to their last five matches—no losses, plenty of goals, and a team that’s playing with the freedom of a side that already booked their ticket to the biggest dance in world football. The past two outings? A 6-3 demolition of Venezuela, and a no-nonsense 3-0 over Bolivia. Los Cafeteros are purring, and the attack looks sharper than a tailor’s suit on a Sunday.
Luis Díaz, the Liverpool dynamo, is the name in neon lights—capable of beating defenders for fun and with enough end-product to make any backline rethink their life choices. James Rodríguez, well, he may not cover as much grass as he once did, but his left foot is still a GPS-guided missile. And Rafael Santos Borré brings that classic Colombian edge—never afraid of a hard run, or a harder tackle. Whether it’s Juanfer Quintero weaving magic or Jefferson Lerma breaking up opposition attacks, this midfield group can hold its own in any hemisphere.
Here’s the subplot: Colombia’s friendly record is spotless—nine straight wins, scalps like Germany and yes, Mexico, tucked into the belt. In the last four meetings, Colombia has claimed three victories and a draw. That’s not a rivalry, that’s a hostage situation if you’re in a green jersey.
Tactically, this matchup promises more fireworks than a July night in the heart of Texas. Mexico’s 4-3-3 is built to stretch the field, with Giménez and Lozano looking to exploit space behind the Colombian fullbacks. Expect possession swings like a pendulum, and some classic CONCACAF-CONMEBOL bite—everyone’s friendly until the whistle blows.
Colombia, meanwhile, come out in their own 4-3-3, but their game is less about patient probing and more about striking when opponents start checking the scoreboard. Luis Díaz out wide is a matchup nightmare for Mexico’s fullbacks, and if James is in the mood, the through ball behind the Mexican lines may come with a bow on top.
So, what’s at stake? Bragging rights don’t fill a trophy cabinet, but they sure fill headlines. Both sides are fine-tuning for the World Cup, looking for answers that statistics alone won’t reveal. Mexico wants to prove that its post-tournament bounce is built on substance, not sentiment. Colombia wants to show that their recent run isn’t just a South American smokescreen.
Prediction? Don’t expect a goalless snoozefest. Both teams have shown they can find the net, and neither defense is allergic to giving up chances. Goals feel inevitable—maybe more than either manager would prefer on the eve of a big summer. This one has all the earmarks of a 2-2 draw, maybe a 3-2 thriller if one of the stars decides the script could use a rewrite.
Friendly in name only. In practice, expect at least one player to leave with a bruised ego, another with a highlight for their reel, and a stadium full of fans thankful that even friendlies can feel like finals when the right teams show up.