James Rodríguez Hospitalized for Dehydration After France Match

Colombian national team captain James Rodríguez was hospitalized for severe dehydration following a friendly match against France on March 29, 2026, prompting concerns about his readiness for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in less than three months.

The 34-year-old midfielder, who plays for Minnesota United in Major League Soccer, played 63 minutes in Colombia's 1-3 loss to France in Landover, Maryland, during an international friendly window. He also featured for the same duration in a match against Croatia three days earlier in Orlando, Florida. The day after the France game, Rodríguez experienced symptoms of severe dehydration, leading to his admission to a medical center in Minnesota on March 30. He remained under observation for 72 hours as a precautionary measure for clinical monitoring and recovery, according to a statement from the Colombian Football Federation released on April 3.

The federation emphasized that the condition is not related to any musculoskeletal injuries or his football activities, describing it as a non-sports-related medical issue. "It is important to clarify that this situation is not linked to the development of his football activities," the statement...