The 2026 World Cup it’s just around the corner. The Colombian team returns to a World Cup after his absence in Qatar 2022. David Ospina would be one of the leaders of the coffee group. The former Arsenal and Napoli player offered his impressions after his return to Colombian football and recognizes that in the country The start of the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada is eagerly awaited.
The 2026 World Cup will have the particularity of being one of the most expensive in history. But this would not be a problem for fans. David Ospina, in association with the Modelo brandpromote a campaign called “The Best Seat in the House”. From home you can also enjoy the passion for football despite being miles away from the event venue.
“I am very happy to be part of this campaign with Modelo. It is very similar to what we experienced when we were on the side of the fans, when we saw our team (…) So, I am very happy to be part of that because I believe that we can give many people from anywhere that happiness from our place on the field,” said Ospina in an exclusive interview for La Opinión.
This campaign is led by other sports figures. Raphinha, Raúl Jiménez, Edson Álvarez and Diego Luna They join David Ospina as the faces of this initiative. All these footballers share the fervor of the passions of their countries of origin. In Conmebol and Concacaf the development of the World Cups is experienced in an informed way.
“We have always lived very together and that place is the sofa, the room where we can all sit and share. From this part of the world the passion for football is impressive and not to mention when the national team plays.“, recognized the historic Colombian goalkeeper.
The return of David Ospina to Colombia
In 2024 David Ospina decided to return to Colombian football from his momentary dismissal in July 2008. In all his years in European football Ospina managed to defend the goal of important clubs such as Nice from Ligue 1, Arsenal from the Premier League and Napoli from Serie A. But Ospina felt the need to return to his country to share all your experiences with the youngest and help them grow.
“In Francewhere I learned a lot of things, they taught me a new language, I was able to adapt easily and I was able to start my family. I had the pass England, I had the pass Italy, Then I had the adventure of going to Saudi Arabia (Al Nassr). I always had in mind that longing and that dream of power return to my country at another point in my career, with more maturity, to be able to help the younger peoples,” he explained.
In July 2024, David Ospina returns to Atlético Nacional, the club where he took his first steps as a goalkeeper. But now he is not that young man who left in 2008. Ospina is a player who returns with several trophies in his pockets as a English Super Cup, two FA Cups and an Italian Cup. After having played more than 350 matches in Europe (including duels in the UEFA Champions League), David Ospina returns with a lot of knowledge that he wants to share for the benefit of Colombian soccer.
“I had the opportunity to go through important clubs. One of them was Arsenal, where I found a fairly organized structure (…) The player only had to think about how important it is to know how to play football (…) I would add a little on the training issue (to Colombian football), on the issue of education (…) I believe that football can also offer that possibility because unfortunately not everyone is going to play professionally. I believe that this can be an important task to carry out to to continue forming a good society“said the veteran goalkeeper.
Merits for the 2026 World Cup
David Ospina is still an ordinary footballer in Néstor Lorenzo’s calls to the Colombian national team. In the recent campaign with Atlético Nacional, David Ospina has played 9 games. The goalkeeper born in Medellín has received 7 goals and He has kept a clean sheet in 5 games.
In general terms, since his return to Atlético Nacional in 2024, David Ospina has kept a clean sheet in 30 games out of the 73 he has been able to play.. Ospina’s performance has been very good and this makes him one of the possible goalkeepers called up by Colombia for the 2026 World Cup.
“The desire to continue learning, the desire to continue improving. I think that at this age one begins to be a little old for football, But I believe that as long as you have that passion, as long as you have that discipline, that respect for our profession, things will continue to work.“Ospina recognized his motivations.
David Ospina debuted in the Colombian national team in 2007. Since then he has become the player with most games played in the history of the coffee team (130 games). Ospina has been Colombia’s goalkeeper in their last two World Cups (9 games). At 37 years old he could return to a World Cup. It is a piece of a lot of experience that could benefit a coffee team that will try to make history in the 2026 World Cup.
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