Colombia will seek to prove its dominance against Ghana, led by former coach Carlos Queiroz, in a crucial World Cup match. The two teams will face off on July 4 at 10:30 a.m. KST at Kansas City Stadium in the United States. The winner will advance to the Round of 16 to meet Switzerland, which defeated Algeria 2-0 to progress.
In the group stage, Colombia topped Group K with two wins and a draw, defeating Uzbekistan 3-1 and the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0, while drawing 0-0 with Portugal. Their strong performance in a challenging group has set a solid foundation for the tournament.
Ghana, on the other hand, advanced from Group L in third place, facing tough competition from England, Croatia, and Panama. Compared to Colombia, which topped its group, Ghana may appear to be at a disadvantage.
However, Queiroz, who knows Colombia well, could turn the tide. He coached the Colombian national team from 2019 to 2020, leading them to the quarterfinals of the 2019 Copa America. He departed after a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign, which included heavy losses to Uruguay and Ecuador. Now, he faces his former team as the head coach of Ghana.
Queiroz is also known to South Korean fans for his time as head coach of Iran, where he faced South Korea multiple times. Notably, after a victory in the 2014 World Cup Asian qualifiers in Ulsan in June 2013, he made an unsportsmanlike gesture towards the South Korean bench, which sparked controversy. In a 2019 press conference, he stated that the media exaggerated the incident and expressed respect for South Korean fans and media.
Last month, Queiroz set a record for the oldest coach to win a World Cup match at 73 years and 3 months during Ghana's game against Panama. He surpassed the previous record held by Otto Rehhagel, who was 71 years and 10 months old during the 2010 World Cup.
For Queiroz, this match represents a confrontation with his past. While he is remembered by South Korean fans for his strong presence as Iran's coach, Colombian fans recall him as a coach who left under unfavorable circumstances. The matchup will reveal whether 13th-ranked Colombia can maintain its advantage or if 73rd-ranked Ghana can pull off an upset using Queiroz's insights into his former team.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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