Jhon Arias has been left out of Colombia’s latest squad, with Infobae reporting that his omission for the October friendlies in the United States has raised eyebrows among fans and journalists back home.
Néstor Lorenzo’s side will face Mexico and Canada, and while the coach has opted to test players who have had fewer opportunities, the absence of the Wolverhampton winger stands out after his key role in recent months.
Arias had been a regular starter for Colombia through the World Cup qualifiers and was an important figure in the team’s run to the Copa América final earlier this year. Yet, the 28-year-old’s current form at Wolves may have influenced the decision.
According to ESPN Colombia, however, Arias’ exclusion “is not a cause for concern.” The report says Néstor Lorenzo’s decision is mainly related to his plan to test new alternatives ahead of the World Cup, with the expectation that the Wolves midfielder will be among the confirmed names for the tournament.
Felipe Sierra, speaking on his show via Kick, claimed that Arias was the last player discussed before finalising the squad and that he would have been the 26th name on the list.
“Nothing was said to the player, and people don’t understand why he wasn’t called up. But the Federation insists it’s to let him develop better at Wolverhampton and regain his top level,” Sierra revealed.
The midfielder has started five of his ten games for Wolves – eight in the league and two in the Carabao Cup – showing flashes of effort but still struggling to influence matches consistently.
The expectation in Colombia is that Arias could return for the November friendlies against New Zealand and Nigeria, as the national team aims to climb the FIFA ranking to secure a seeded position for the 2026 World Cup draw.
For now, his absence has sparked debate in Colombia and added another layer to his complicated start at Molineux, where performances remain under scrutiny as he tries to balance adaptation in England with maintaining his place in the national team.
