Colombia's James Rodriguez Hospitalized with Dehydration After World Cup Friendly

The 34-year-old midfielder was admitted to a Minneapolis hospital following Colombia's match against France.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:04pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a soccer player's body and movements broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color, representing the physical challenges posed by the extreme heat at the upcoming World Cup.A cubist interpretation of a Colombian soccer player struggling with the extreme heat and dehydration, a growing concern for the 2026 World Cup.Minneapolis Today

James Rodríguez, the 34-year-old Colombian midfielder, was hospitalized in Minneapolis, Minnesota with severe dehydration after playing in a friendly match against France. Rodríguez, who recently joined Minnesota United FC, had not played more than 26 minutes in a match since November and experienced the dehydration symptoms after returning from the France game.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the growing concerns around player safety and heat-related issues ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With high temperatures expected, FIFA has implemented new policies like mandatory hydration breaks, but some teams are considering having substitutes watch matches from the locker room to avoid heat exhaustion.

The details

Rodríguez played 63 minutes in Colombia's friendly against France, the same amount of time he had played just days earlier in a 2-1 loss to Croatia. The Colombian Football Federation stated that Rodríguez did not show symptoms of dehydration until returning to Minnesota, where he was then hospitalized for 72 hours for monitoring and recovery. The federation clarified that this was not related to any musculoskeletal injuries and that Rodríguez's condition is improving.

  • On April 3, 2026, Rodríguez was admitted to a hospital in Minneapolis with severe dehydration.
  • Rodríguez had played 63 minutes in Colombia's friendly against France on the previous day.

The players

James Rodríguez

A 34-year-old Colombian midfielder who recently joined Minnesota United FC on a contract running until at least the 2026 World Cup.

Minnesota United FC

The American soccer club that James Rodríguez joined on a contract running until at least the 2026 World Cup.

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What they’re saying

“'It has been confirmed, after establishing communication with a medical center in the State of Minnesota, that the midfielder has been under professional observation due to a non-sports-related medical condition.'”

— Colombian Football Federation

“'The day after the match against France, the player presented with severe dehydration that required hospitalization for the past 72 hours for preventative and recovery monitoring.'”

— Colombian Football Federation

“'It is important to clarify that this situation is not related to musculoskeletal injuries nor is it linked to the development of his football activities. Fortunately, the current medical report indicates a favorable evolution and a steady improvement.'”

— Colombian Football Federation

What’s next

It is unclear if Rodríguez will be able to feature in Minnesota United's upcoming match against the LA Galaxy on Saturday. His fitness for the 2026 World Cup with Colombia is also uncertain at this time.

The takeaway

This incident with James Rodríguez underscores the growing concerns around player health and safety as the 2026 World Cup approaches, with high temperatures expected to pose significant challenges for athletes, staff, and fans across the tournament's host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.