Jáminton Campaz did not return to Colombia with the national team following him FIFA World Cup the elimination, as new reports say that the striker was as a precaution after receiving death threats after the defeat in Switzerland. The development comes just a day after the Colombian Football Federation (FCF) publicly condemned the abuse directed at Campaz and his family, while urging the authorities to investigate those responsible.Colombia’s World Cup campaign came to a heartbreaking end on Tuesday after a penalty defeat in Switzerland in the Round of 16. Campaz, who plays his club football for the Argentine team Rosario Central, suffered one of the cruelest moments of the match when he missed a golden opportunity to win the game at the end of extra time.
Colombia’s Jaminton Campaz (21) misses a shot on goal as Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel (1) defends during the World Cup U16 soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Breaking clear with less than six minutes remaining, the 26-year-old fired his effort over the crossbar with the score still locked at 0-0. Although he recovered to convert his penalty during the ensuing shootout, Colombia eventually lost 4–3 and exited the tournament.According to Argentinian outlet InfobaeCampaz did not board the Colombian team’s return flight from Vancouver to Bogota on Thursday because of concerns for their safety after a wave of online abuse and death threats.Several senior players, including James Rodríguez, Davinson Sánchez and Juan Fernando Quintero, were among those who returned home with the rest of the team. Campaz, however, was absent from the flight. It is not clear if he stayed in the United States or traveled separately to Argentina, where he is contracted to Rosario Central.
Colombia’s Jaminton Campaz reacts after losing to Switzerland during a penalty shootout in the World Cup Round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The reported decision follows days of sustained harassment on social media following Colombia’s elimination. Later, Campaz limited comments on his accounts before posting an emotional message asking supporters not to let disappointment turn into hate.“Football is also made up of difficult moments,” he wrote alongside a photograph of himself covering his face in frustration.“To me Colombia, please never lose sight of respect. We can think differently or feel frustration and sadness, but no passion justifies hatred or living in fear.”Reflecting on the tournament, Campaz added that representing his country had fulfilled a lifelong dream.“Since I was a child, I dreamed of defending the colors of Colombia, hearing the anthem, representing millions of people and scoring a goal in a World Cup. Today, I can only thank God for allowing me to realize that dream. These are memories that I will carry with me forever.“I want to sincerely thank everyone who has been with us during this World Cup – those who believed in us, encouraged us until the last minute, and never lost faith. Thanks also to my family, who have been my strength every step of the way and have been by my side in the happiest and most difficult moments.”He also acknowledged the nation’s disappointment after the Round of 16 exit.“To the whole country, I can only say that I share the pain of this elimination. We also dreamed of advancing further, and I know the sadness that we feel today as Colombians.“I’m very sorry that I wasn’t able to bring the joy we all hoped for, but I want you to know that there was never a lack of dedication, commitment or love for this jersey. I gave everything I had on the field, and I will do it a thousand times for my country.”The Colombian Football Federation responded on Friday by releasing a strong statement condemning the threats made against Campaz and those close to him, while calling on the country’s Attorney General’s Office to identify those responsible and prosecute them as soon as possible.“No athlete, nor a member of his inner circle, should be subjected to intimidation to represent his country in a sports arena,” the federation said.“Football should be a space for unity, respect and hope, never a place for hatred, intimidation or violence.”The episode inevitably drew comparisons with one of the darkest moments in Colombian football history. During the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, defender Andrés Escobar scored an own goal in Colombia’s defeat to the hosts, a result that contributed to the team’s elimination. A few days after returning home, Escobar was murdered outside a nightclub in Medellín, a tragedy that remains one of the most painful chapters in football.Although there is no suggestion that Campaz faces a similar situation, the reports that he allegedly chose not to return to Colombia immediately underline the seriousness of the threats that follow the exit of the World Cup of the national team. The federation’s intervention and its demand for a criminal investigation now puts the focus on identifying those responsible for the abuse rather than allowing sporting disappointment to boil over into real-world intimidation.