Colombian soccer player Hamilton Campaz, who missed a crucial scoring opportunity in the Round of 16 match of the 2026 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup in North America, has been unable to return home due to death threats.
The Colombian Football Federation announced on July 11 that Campaz has postponed his return due to death threats. In a subsequent statement, they emphasized that no player or their family should face threats or intimidation simply for representing their country.
Colombia was eliminated from the tournament on July 8 after a 0-0 draw with Switzerland over 120 minutes, losing 3-4 in the ensuing penalty shootout.
During the match, Campaz had a golden opportunity in extra time, finding himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his shot went wide.
In the aftermath, some Colombian fans, enraged by the team’s elimination, blamed Campaz and flooded his social media accounts with hateful comments and death threats targeting both him and his family.
Campaz took to social media to apologize, stating that he’s sorry he couldn’t bring joy to the Colombian people. He also pleaded for restraint, adding that passion cannot justify hatred.
The threats against Campaz are a chilling reminder of a tragic incident that occurred during the 1994 World Cup in the U.S.
During that tournament, Colombian defender Andrés Escobar faced severe criticism after scoring an own goal in a group stage match against the U.S. Tragically, he was shot and killed shortly after returning home.