There have been no shortage of crucial misses in the 2026 FIFA World Cup (and every major soccer tournament for that matter). But one miss from a player earlier this week was apparently so bad that he’s gone into hiding over death threats from his home country.
According to the New York Post, Colombia midfielder Jaminton Campaz has gone completely off the grid ever since Colombia bowed out in the Round of 16 at the hands of Switzerland on penalties. Campaz reportedly refused to fly home with his teammates after the team was eliminated.
Campaz has reportedly been receiving an endless stream of threats over a missed shot that would have given Colombia the win over Switzerland. He has had to go to Instagram to beg fans to stop:
“My Colombia, please let us never lose sight of respect,” he wrote on Thursday. “We may hold different views or feel frustration and sadness, but no passion justifies hatred or living in fear.
“Since I was a child, I dreamed of defending Colombia’s colours, 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 fulfill that dream. These are memories I will carry with me forever.
“I want to sincerely thank everyone who stood by us during this World Cup – those who believed in us, cheered us on until the very last minute, and never lost faith. Thanks also to my family, who have been my strength at every step and have been by my side during both the happiest and the most difficult moments.
“To the entire country, I can only say that I share the pain of this elimination. We, too, dreamed of advancing further, and I know the sadness we feel today as Colombians.
“I deeply regret not being able to bring you 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 pitch, and I would do it a thousand times over for my country.”
It’s currently unknown whether Campaz is still in the United States or if he’s flown to Argentina to rejoin Rosario Central, the club he plays for.
Colombia’s soccer federation has publicly condemned the threats against Campaz and has called for a federal investigation into it.
“Football must be a space for unity, respect, and hope — never a stage for hatred, intimidation, or violence,” the organisation said. “Therefore, the Federation calls upon all Colombians to ensure that the differences inherent in sports competition never translate into threats or acts of aggression against those who dedicate their lives to representing the country.”
There’s an infamous incident that took place in 1994 that also involved Colombia’s elimination at the World Cup.
In Colombia’s game against the United States, defender Andres Escobar scored an own goal that contributed to the loss and the country’s elimination from the tournament.
Five days later, Escobar was shot and killed. Through the years, there has been evidence that his killing was directly related to that now-infamous own goal.
