Juan Cuadrado

World Cup 2026 Analysis

Juan Cuadrado, the veteran Colombian footballer, is currently playing for Pisa in Italy's Serie A, having joined the newly-promoted club in August 2025 on a one-year contract. His move to Pisa was motivated by his ambition to play more regularly and earn a spot in Colombia's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Latest News and Form:

Now 37 years old, Cuadrado has been actively featuring for Pisa in the 2025-2026 season. Across Serie A, Coppa Italia, and apparently a miscategorized "EURO U-21" competition (given his age), he has made 10 appearances and scored 1 goal, playing 327 minutes in Serie A. His match ratings have generally hovered between 6.7 and 7.2 in the games he has played. However, his season has also been punctuated by muscle and hamstring injuries, which have led to his absence in several recent matches for Pisa in late November and December 2025. These injuries follow a challenging 2023-2024 season with Inter Milan, where he was largely sidelined due to an Achilles tendon injury, limiting him to just 12 appearances.

2026 World Cup Outlook for Colombia:

Colombia has successfully qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and currently sits in 3rd place in the CONMEBOL qualifiers. Despite Colombia's strong qualification campaign, Cuadrado has not been called up to the national team since September 2023. This absence has been attributed to a chronic Achilles tendon injury and a decision by head coach Néstor Lorenzo for "physical preservation" of the player.

Recent squad announcements for the World Cup qualifiers in March, September, and October 2025 did not include Cuadrado. Coach Lorenzo has publicly stated that he wants players who are "consolidating" and are in the "best conditions" for the national team. While Cuadrado has expressed his strong desire and determination to return to the national team for what would likely be his final World Cup, his path to the 2026 squad appears challenging due to his recent injury struggles and the emergence of new talent. Although Lorenzo has not explicitly ruled out experienced players, Cuadrado will need to maintain consistent fitness and demonstrate exceptional form with Pisa to convince the national team coach of his readiness for the prestigious tournament.