Colombia - Costa Rica live - Football

Colombia host Costa Rica in a June 2026 international friendly in Bogotá - a final warm-up for Los Cafeteros ahead of the FIFA World Cup, while the Ticos look to rebuild after failing to qualify for the tournament.

Match Info: Colombia vs Costa Rica

The match between Colombia and Costa Rica kicks off on Monday, 2 June 2026 at midnight (00:00 BST) at the Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campín in Bogotá. The fixture is part of the FIFA international match calendar and serves as a final preparatory game for Colombia before the 2026 World Cup.

Where to Watch Colombia vs Costa Rica?

Viewers in Canada can catch the match on TLN on television, while those who prefer streaming have the option of VIVA online - making it straightforward for the large Colombian diaspora in Canada to follow their national team.

In Colombia, the game is broadcast on Caracol HD2 and RCN Televisión on traditional TV, and simultaneously available via Caracol Play and Deportes RCN En Vivo for those watching on mobile or desktop devices.

Costa Rican fans can watch on Repretel Canal 6 in linear TV, with TDMAX offering the online alternative - giving supporters across Central America a clear path to watching this friendly.

Colombia vs Costa Rica - Match Preview

Colombia enter as strong favourites, bringing World Cup momentum and home advantage against a Costa Rica side that was eliminated from CONCACAF qualifying and arrive in Bogotá with little competitive pressure.

Colombia secured their 2026 World Cup berth through CONMEBOL qualifying after an impressive campaign, with James Rodríguez and Luis Díaz leading the charge. However, two consecutive friendly defeats - 1:3 against France and 1:2 against Croatia in early 2026 - have introduced some doubt ahead of the tournament. Coach Néstor Lorenzo will use this game to sharpen his tactical blueprint, and a comfortable win over Costa Rica would restore morale ahead of the World Cup.

Costa Rica arrive in difficult form after being eliminated from 2026 World Cup qualifying in November 2025, finishing with a 1-4-1 record in Group C of the CONCACAF third round. A 0:5 humiliation against Iran in March 2026 underlined the defensive fragility that has plagued the team. That said, a 2:2 draw away to Jordan and a goalless draw against Honduras show there is still some resilience - the Ticos simply lack the firepower to compete consistently at the top level.

Head-to-Head: Colombia vs Costa Rica

Colombia have dominated the recent head-to-head record, winning 2 of the last 3 meetings and conceding just 3 goals across those matches, while Costa Rica's only win came nearly a decade ago at Copa América 2016.

The last 3 meetings between Colombia and Costa Rica:

• 29 June 2024 - Copa América - Colombia 3:0 Costa Rica
• 17 October 2018 - International Friendly - Colombia 3:1 Costa Rica
• 12 June 2016 - Copa América - Costa Rica 3:2 Colombia

Colombia - Recent Form

Colombia won 2 of their last 5 matches, drew 1 and lost 2, scoring 8 goals and conceding 8 - a mixed record that reflects the experimental nature of their pre-World Cup friendlies.

In autumn 2025, Colombia posted back-to-back wins: 3:0 against Australia and 2:1 against New Zealand, demonstrating clinical finishing and solid defensive organisation at home. A 0:0 draw away in Canada suggested the team can be cautious and disciplined on the road when needed.

The 2026 calendar has been tougher, with defeats against France (1:3) and Croatia (1:2). Both results exposed vulnerability at the back, but with the World Cup qualification already secured, Los Cafeteros can afford to experiment - and this friendly against Costa Rica offers a gentler environment to work through tactical adjustments before the tournament begins.

Costa Rica - Recent Form

Costa Rica won 1 of their last 5 games, drew 2 and lost 2, with 6 goals scored and 8 conceded - results that directly reflect their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The high point of this run was a convincing 4:1 home win over Nicaragua in October 2025, one of the few performances where Costa Rica controlled a game from start to finish. The 2:2 draw away to Jordan in March 2026 showed some attacking intent, though the Ticos conceded twice to a side they were expected to overcome.

The 0:5 loss to Iran in Antalya, also in March 2026, was the sharpest warning sign - Iran scored 5 goals including 2 penalties, and Costa Rica managed no meaningful response throughout the match. That level of defensive collapse makes the Bogotá trip particularly challenging, where Colombia's forward line will look to exploit similar weaknesses.

Facts and Statistics

4 key statistics about the Colombia vs Costa Rica rivalry:

• Colombia scored 8 goals across the last 3 head-to-head meetings, averaging 2.67 goals per game.
• Costa Rica's last victory over Colombia came over 10 years ago, at Copa América in June 2016.
• In their most recent meeting - Copa América 2024 - Colombia won 3:0, keeping a clean sheet.
• Costa Rica conceded 5 goals in a single friendly match against Iran in March 2026, their heaviest loss in recent years.