Colombia captain James Rodriguez was accused of ignoring a request from the daughter of the country’s president Gustavo Petro as their official send off event for the 2026 FIFA World Cup descended into controversy.
Petro, Colombia’s outgoing president, hosted the event at the country’s Military Transportation Air Command base in Bogota.
The president presented the Colombian flag to national team coaching staff, while each member of the 26-man squad was given a traditional Cordoban hat.
The gifts were presented after Petro had addressed the squad at the base, before the team flew to the United States to step up their World Cup preparations.
Players were seen shaking hands with Petro’s youngest daughter Antonella, 17, before greeting the president, who was wearing a Colombian national team kit.
Rodriguez, 34, was among those seen shaking Antonella’s hand but caused controversy after allegedly ignoring her request to have a photo together.
James Rodriguez was accused of snubbing a photo request from the daughter of Colombia’s president
Antonella, 17, had joined her father at the official send off event for the World Cup
Rodriguez was among the Colombian stars accused of acting like ‘jerks’ at an official send-off event for the World Cup
‘Antonella is a girl who loves soccer, her passion for cheering on the national team was genuine, they didn’t have to be such jerks,’ wrote Heidy Sanchez, a Bogota council member, who represents the ruling Historical Pact party.
‘James Rodriguez, so macho with a little girl, but so cowardly and whiny on the field, you’re a dad too and I’m sure you’d never want your daughter to go through such a horrible snub.’
Colombia’s players also received criticism on social media after appearing stern faced and solemn during the send off event.
Several highlighted the difference in expressions when players were later seen with broad smiles after boarding their flight to Mexico.
Colombian president Petro later shared images from the event, which saw him kissing his daughter and Antonella handing one of the gifts over to the national team.
He had earlier told the team: ‘The last shall be first. This has been the philosophy and the motto of my own life, of this government, and I want you to keep it in your hearts, because in the end, you young people will see—you have already seen it and experienced it—what the glare of television screens and cameras truly means, the brilliance I call fame.
‘The opposite of life is greed and pride. If pride wins the team, greed will prevail, life will be sacrificed, and the last will be relegated, and we will not be what we are: a country that must be for everyone. So, the last will be first, and life comes before greed; that must be the motto of a game that represents a nation, that must be fraternal with all the nations of the world.
‘We are humanity, first and foremost, and I hope that you are no longer last, and I wish and want, and the people of Colombia want, that you will be first.
Colombian stars had appeared stern-faced as the country’s president Gustavo Petro addressed them before travelling to the United States
Colombia’s squad joined Petro on stage after being presented with gifts at the event
Colombia travelled to the United States to play their final warm-up match before the World Cup
‘You know perfectly well that you represent this country, in every corner, in all its desires, dreams, and aspirations, and that all Colombians wish you the best in what will be a very special World Cup.’
Earlier on Thursday, a Bogota court had ordered right-wing presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella to stop using the Colombian national team shirt in campaign advertising and events.
De la Espriella will face left-winger Ivan Cepeda, who is backed by Petro, in Colombian presidential run-off in three weeks.
The Colombian national team will face Jordan in their final World Cup warm-up match on June 7 in San Diego.
Nestor Lorenzo’s side will face Uzbekistan and DR Congo in their opening group matches in Mexico, before facing Portugal in Miami.
