Royer Caicedo, Daniel Arcila and Matías Orozco: profiles of the unknown players that Néstor Lorenzo called up to the Colombian national team for the next FIFA date

In September 2026, Colombian national football team head coach Néstor Lorenzo confirmed the retirement of James Rodríguez from international competition, noting that the player made the decision following his move to Atlético Nacional. Lorenzo stated that he had been aware of the decision for some time and chose to respect the player's timeline regarding the announcement.

Separately, forward Luis Díaz expressed support for Lorenzo’s leadership of the national squad, emphasizing the team's collective responsibility to improve their performance. Díaz, who was excluded from the September and October 2026 FIFA match windows by mutual agreement with the coach to allow for rest, remains a key figure in the team's ongoing transition under the Argentine manager.