Colombia is down to a straight choice beside Jefferson Lerma for its World Cup opener, and Gustavo Puerta is one of the two names still in play. The 22-year-old stands as the direct alternative for the second spot in the first line of midfield as Néstor Lorenzo prepares the team to face Uzbekistán in the Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026.
That decision matters because the midfield setup will shape how Colombia opens the tournament. Lorenzo built the squad with five defensive midfielders among the 26 convocados, a clear sign he wanted cover, balance, and more than one way to protect the center of the field if injuries or suspensions change the picture.
Puerta has stayed in the conversation because of what he has offered in training and earlier competition periods: strong physical deployment, cleaner passing, and a threat from distance. In a position where one player is expected to hold the line and the other to move the ball quickly, those traits matter. They also help explain why his name remains attached to the role even as the coaching staff narrows the field.
Richard Ríos remains the other main candidate, and his case is built on more recent exposure. He has started since the Copa América 2024 and also saw activity in the Copa Mundial de Clubes 2025, while March 2026 brought fluctuating performances in friendly-match preparation. That gives him a different kind of momentum, even if Puerta is still framed as the direct alternative for the spot next to Lerma.
The broader picture is simple. Lerma is the fixed axis in Colombia’s midfield because of his recovery, coverage, and aerial ability, and the rest of the group was assembled around that base. Kevin Castaño and Juan Camilo Portilla complete the defensive midfield options, with Castaño included despite limited continuity at River Plate and Portilla kept in the mix after meeting the technical requirements when he played for the national team.
The final call will come in the sessions before the match against Uzbekistán, and it is likely to tell the first real story of how Lorenzo wants Colombia to manage the center of the pitch. If Puerta gets the nod, Colombia leans toward control and range; if Ríos does, the team keeps the player with the sharper recent match rhythm. Either way, the debate ends only when the starting XI is set.
