James Rodríguez leads Colombia to a dominant 4-0 win over Mexico in World Cup tune-up

ARLINGTON, Texas, USA —
James Rodríguez once again took center stage for the Colombian national team. With two brilliant assists and the cross that led to another goal, he orchestrated a resounding 4-0 victory over Mexico on Saturday in a friendly match ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Played at AT&T Stadium, the match showcased Colombia’s attacking power and precision, leaving Mexico with no room to respond.

Jhon Lucumí opened the scoring in the 16th minute, taking advantage of a perfectly executed free kick from James. The defender calmly struck the ball with his right foot past a disorganized Mexican defense and goalkeeper Luis Ángel Malagón.

In the 56th minute, Luis Díaz doubled the lead with a beautiful chipped finish after a long pass from James near midfield. The quick, incisive play once again exposed Mexico’s defensive frailties.

The third goal came in the 64th minute courtesy of Jefferson Lerma, who fired home a loose ball following another James free kick. Erik Lira’s failed clearance left the ball at Lerma’s feet, and he made no mistake.

Colombia, who finished third in South American World Cup qualifying, again demonstrated its strength on set pieces.

“We’re a team that works as one. Today we showed it again with our set plays, but beyond tactics, having players like James who strike the ball so well makes a big difference,” said Argentine coach Néstor Lorenzo.

With James already substituted, Johan Carbonero sealed the rout in the 87th minute, capitalizing on a poor play by Malagón to complete the perfect night for the Cafeteros.

On the Mexican side, coach Javier Aguirre took full responsibility for the heavy defeat:

“After a 4-0, anything I say might sound hollow. All four goals were avoidable. We need to learn how to compete better — that’s today’s lesson.”

With the result, Colombia tied Mexico in their all-time series with 10 wins each and nine draws, now holding a slight edge in goal differential (31–29).

Mexican defender Jorge Sánchez admitted the loss was “catastrophic”:

“We know it was just a friendly, but we have to pay more attention. Two goals came from set pieces, and two from transitions.”

Both teams are already qualified for next year’s World Cup — Mexico as co-host alongside the United States and Canada, and Colombia as one of CONMEBOL’s qualifiers.

James, currently playing for León in Mexico’s Liga MX, once again showcased his trademark left foot — a pinpoint free kick for the first goal, a perfect assist for Díaz, and another cross that led to the third. It was a performance reminiscent of his best years in the national team.

Mexico, featuring veteran Hirving Lozano, came closest to scoring only in stoppage time, when Germán Berterame hit the post.

This marked Aguirre’s third loss in 18 matches since returning for his third stint as Mexico’s manager. He acknowledged the superiority of his opponents:

“They had four shots on target and scored four times. We couldn’t even get one. It’s frustrating, but we have to improve.”

Mexico will now return home to face Ecuador on Tuesday in Guadalajara, while Colombia will travel to New Jersey to take on Canada, another World Cup host.