Colombia’s World Cup 2026 debut brought a narrow win over Uzbekistan, but it also revived a familiar debate around Juanfer Quintero. Néstor Lorenzo left the River playmaker on the bench for the full 90 minutes, while Kevin Castaño at least got on the pitch in the second half.
The decision stood out because James Rodríguez started the match, even though Colombia’s supporters have questioned his level. Instead of turning to Quintero when James began asking for a substitution, Lorenzo chose Jaminton Campaz, a move that reinforced how limited Juanfer’s role has become.
Juanfer’s role under Lorenzo
Quintero is a regular call-up for Colombia, but he has not been a regular starter. In the last year, according to lapaginamillonaria.com, the River midfielder was named in the starting XI in only one of Colombia’s 11 matches, including the one against Uzbekistan.
The pattern has continued in 2026, when he did not start any of Colombia’s warm-up friendlies before the World Cup. In each of those games, he entered late rather than from the beginning.
| Competition | Quintero’s involvement |
|---|---|
| Last year with Colombia | Started 1 of 11 matches |
| 2026 friendlies | Did not start any match |
| World Cup debut vs. Uzbekistan | Stayed on the bench for 90 minutes |
What happened in the major tournament before
His lack of minutes is not new in big competitions either. At the Copa América 2024, Quintero was a substitute in all six of Colombia’s matches and barely featured across the tournament.
He played one minute against Paraguay in the opener, stayed on the bench against Costa Rica and Colombia, added 17 minutes against Panama in the quarterfinals, did not play against Uruguay in the semifinals, and only appeared in extra time of the final against Argentina.
Why Colombian fans are reacting
Supporters in Colombia are increasingly frustrated because James has not been at his best, yet still appears to be ahead of Quintero in Lorenzo’s plans. That is why many fans are pushing for Juanfer to start and for him to be placed above Rodríguez in the team hierarchy.
The reaction reflects a wider concern that one of Colombia’s most creative midfielders is being underused at a time when the team could use a different solution in the final third. For now, though, the early World Cup signs suggest Quintero remains far from first choice.
