Colombia's Women's U-20 Team Advances to Final Hexagonal of South American Championship

Colombia's women's under-20 team secured a spot in the final hexagonal round of the South American U-20 Women's Championship with a decisive 3-0 victory over Bolivia. The tournament, being held in Ecuador, will award four spots to the U-20 Women's World Cup in Colombia from August 31 to September 22.

The win puts Colombia one step closer to qualifying for the World Cup on home soil, which would mark a historic achievement for the country's women's football program. The final hexagonal will feature the top six teams in the tournament competing in a round-robin format to determine the four World Cup qualifiers.

Colombia's chances of participating in the World Cup have increased, as the host country will receive an additional quota. Peru's U20 women's team has also secured a place in the final hexagonal after defeating Uruguay 2-1, improving their odds of qualifying for the World Cup as well.

Why this matters: Colombia's success in the South American U-20 Women's Championship highlights the growth and development of women's football in the country. Hosting the U-20 Women's World Cup later this year presents a significant opportunity to showcase the talent and potential of Colombia's young female players on a global stage.

The Colombian squad, led by coach Carlos Paniagua, includes 10 players from the team that reached the final of the U-17 World Cup in 2022. Two key players, Ana María Guzmán and Linda Caicedo, are already playing professionally in Europe. Paniagua aims to play as many games as possible in the South American Championship to consolidate the team that will represent Colombia in the World Cup.

Colombia's next match in the tournament is against Brazil on April 20, a traditionally challenging opponent for Colombian women's teams. "The team's goal is to win today's match against Bolivia and then face Brazil, the traditional 'coconut' of the Colombian women's teams, on Saturday," Paniagua stated.

Key Takeaways

• Colombia's U20 women's team secured spot in final hexagonal round of S. American championship.
• Colombia aims to qualify for U20 Women's World Cup, which they will host in 2023.
• Peru's U20 women's team also qualified for final hexagonal round, improving World Cup chances.
• Colombia's success highlights growth of women's football, with key players already playing in Europe.
• Colombia faces Brazil, a traditional challenge, in their next match in the tournament.