Colombia vs. Australia Tomorrow: Daniel Muñoz Out of Friendly Due to Family Emergency

Colombia faces Australia in a high-profile friendly, Colombia vs Australia friendly Nov 18 2025, at Citi Field on Tuesday night — a final test for La Tricolor before the end of the year, and a chance for coach Nestor Lorenzo to evaluate players ahead of 2026 World Cup preparations. Kick-off in New York is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. local time on Nov. 18 (the same hour in Bogota), with the match expected to draw a large Colombian contingent in Queens. Daniel Muñoz will be absent due to a family emergency.

As Reuters reports, the game comes after a mixed international window for both teams. Australia, coached by Tony Popovic, come into the fixture looking to rebound from a narrow defeat to Venezuela that exposed defensive lapses the Socceroos will want to correct. Popovic has used the friendlies to experiment with young faces and build depth for the 2026 World Cup cycle.

For Colombia, the match is part sporting preparation and part celebration, after defeating New Zealand 2-1: It gives Lorenzo the opportunity to rotate and observe game management in the kind of hostile, fast-paced atmosphere South American players often face in U.S. venues packed with passionate expatriate fans. Lorenzo — who has overseen a period of improved results and continuity with the national team — will be watching how his attackers link with the wing play and how his back line copes with Australia’s physical approach.

Colombia vs. Australia Tomorrow: Daniel Muñoz out of friendly due to family emergency

A late blow for the Colombian camp came on Nov. 16, when the Federacion Colombiana de Futbol confirmed that right-back Daniel Muñoz has left the national team’s concentration in the United States for family reasons and will not be available for the Australia friendly.

The federation’s statement gave no further details; local outlets quickly picked up the news and reported that no replacement was expected given the short notice. Muñoz, a regular in recent call-ups and a starter at club level in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, had been on the bench for Colombia’s last friendly and will now return home to attend to personal matters.

Muñoz’s absence forces Lorenzo to consider alternatives at full-back: Whether to deploy an experienced deputy or to trial a younger option who could provide different offensive balance. That choice matters: Colombia’s full-backs have become important offensive outlets in recent cycles, and a change could alter how the team builds attacks down the flanks.

Australia will play cautiously

On the Australian side, Popovic may be cautious but resolute, says Reuter; his recent selections suggest a coach balancing the desire to win with the need to test players in competitive minutes. For Colombian supporters in New York and viewers at home, the match offers an entertaining, tactical clash — South American flair against Oceania’s organized pressing and aerial strength.

Beyond the pitch, the fixture has marketing and diaspora significance: Citi Field has been promoted as a Colombian football night, and ticket platforms show robust sales, reflecting strong interest from Colombians in the tri-state area. For many players, the match provides a chance to close the year on a high note and push for a place in Lorenzo’s plans for 2026.

Whatever the result, the friendly against Australia will be judged by Colombians for more than the scoreline: It will be an audit of squad depth, a stage for emerging talent to stake a claim, and — in the case of Daniel Muñoz — a reminder that the national team is also affected by events beyond football.

The federation’s brief statement underscores a recurring truth in international sport: National teams must sometimes adapt quickly to personal emergencies, and coaches must be prepared to reshuffle plans at a moment’s notice.