France, Colombia to square off at Northwest Stadium in World Cup tune-up

Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, wasn’t selected to host a World Cup match in 2026, but the home of the Washington Commanders will still host an international game between France and Colombia in March as the two squads prepare for the tournament.

The soccer friendly is part of the “Road to 26” series, which features similar matchups in Massachusetts and Florida.

France and Colombia will play at 3 p.m. March 29, less than 75 days before the World Cup kicks off. Both teams have already qualified for the world’s biggest tournament, which will be hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

France is No. 3 in FIFA’s international rankings. Colombia ranks 13th.

The two clubs last played in an exhibition in France in 2018. The Colombians overcame a two-goal deficit to upset the French 3-2.

Also as part of the lead-up to the international tournament, Brazil will play France at Gillette Stadium — home of the New England Patriots — on March 26. Colombia will face Croatia at Orlando, Florida’s Camping World Stadium on the same day.

The series will conclude with a final match between Brazil and Croatia in Florida on March 31.

“Road to 26 is about creating a globally recognizable platform that brings the world’s elite national teams to multiple U.S. markets during a pivotal period for international soccer in the United States,” said Steve Hogan, CEO of Florida Citrus Sports, which is promoting the exhibitions. “By staging meaningful, world-class matches across several cities, this series gives fans access to top-level competition while reinforcing the United States’ role as a premier destination for international soccer in 2026.”