Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Colombia
Match Time & Date:
06/06/2025
22:30
Prediction: 3-0
Peru
Friday’s football game at Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez pits together Colombia and Peru. Los Cafeteros are desperate to put an end to their four-game winless run in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and they are seen as hot favourites to beat La Bicolor in Barranquilla. Millonarios goalkeeper Alvaro Montero has been omitted as well as Carlos Cuesta, Santiago Arias, and Johan Mojica, but star players James Rodriguez and Luis Diaz both made the cut.
The Peruvians, on the other hand, aim to recover from a 1-0 loss to Venezuela, but given their poor away record (0-1-6), in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, anything but a routine home win would be a big surprise. As always, veteran striker Paolo Guerrero will lead the line for La Bicolor, while Universitario defender Cesar Inga has received a surprising call-up. His teammate Alex Valera (goalkeeper), misses out due to personal reasons.
Highlighted Player (James Rodriguez):
James Rodriguez is an attacking midfielder who plays for Spanish giants Real Madrid. The Colombian superstar played for the likes of Envigado and Banfield at the start of his career and he moved to Europe in 2010, joining Portuguese side Porto for a fee of €5.1 million.
James scored 25 goals in 63 league appearances with the Dragons and in 2013 he joined Monaco. His transfer to the Ligue 1 side was the second most expensive in the history of Portuguese Primeira Liga (€45 million) and he signed a five-year contract with les Rouges et Blancs. The Colombian ace impressed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and, as a result, Real Madrid chiefs signed him on 22 July, 2014 for an undisclosed fee.
However, reports in Spain suggested that the fee was approximately €80 million. Rodriguez scored 13 goals in 29 league appearances for Real Madrid in the 2014/2015 Primera Division campaign and he was in Gareth Bale’s shadow in the 2015/2016 season. James is well known for his technical skills, his vision and the ability to create goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Highlighted Team (Peru):
Peru national team has been competing at the international stage since 1927 when they played their first ever match against Uruguay. Over the course of their history, La Blanquirroja have formed long-standing rivalries with Chile and Ecuador while 1970s brought the team a worldwide recognition during the period that is to this date considered the most successful in Peruvian football.
Teofilo Cubillas, the team’s top scorer with 26 goals to his name is considered Peru’s greatest player helped the team qualify for three World Cups and win the Copa America in 1975. Peru are the two-time champion of the tournament, who came close to lifting the Copa America trophy again in recent years, finishing third in 2011 and 2015 respectively.
La Blanquirroja are managed by Ricardo Gareca commonly referred to as the Tiger who will lead his team to 2016 Copa America Centenario looking to win Peru its first trophy at a major tournament since 1982.
Borussia Dortmund
Ulsan HD
Mamelodi Sundowns
Fluminense
Inter 
River Plate
Urawa Reds 
Monterrey 
Juventus
Man City 
Wydad 
Al Ain
