Arsenal star considering surprise national team switch for 2026 World Cup

Martin Macdonald

• 16 Oct 2025 04:30 CDT
• 2 min read

News

Arsenal defender Cristhian Mosquera will consider switching national team allegiance from Spain to Colombia in order to make his 2026 World Cup dream come true.

After impressing in Valencia's youth ranks, then the B Team and senior side, the central defender earned a £13 million switch to Arsenal during the summer.

He faced a tough task to establish himself as Gabriel and William Saliba are stalwarts of the current Arsenal starting XI but injuries in the defensive ranks at the Emirates have awarded Mosquera opportunities to impress - and he's grabbed those opportunities with both hands.

The 21-year-old has played for Spain's youth teams and captained the Under-21s, even winning an Olympic Gold Medal with the Under-23w. However, he is yet to receive a call-up to the senior squad which makes him still eligible to play for Colombia through his parents.

He holds a Colombian passport.

AS reports that the Colombian football authorities are keen for him to jump shop and have offered the opportunity previously and the player is considering it.

“Spain has some great centre-backs, both present and future,” he told AS last week.

“What depends on me is to stay focused on my club and the doors will keep opening.”

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente currently favours the likes of Dean Huijsen, Robin Le Normand, Daniel Vivian, Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi for his centre-back spots.

Mosquera praised for Arsenal start

Arsenal’s most impressive summer signing has not been big money acquisitions Viktor Gyokeres or Martin Zubimendi, but rather Mosquera, according to former Gunner Sol Campbell.

"Mosquera has done really well. He's come in a couple of times, and he's played really, really advanced for his age. You know, he's going to make slight mistakes here and there, but that's normal. But he's quick and strong, good positioning, good passer. He knows what it's all about. He's responsible, and also it looks like he cares about the game as well,” former England defender Campbell told GiveMeSport.

"He wants to produce a good performance every time he goes on the pitch. He can learn a lot from Saliba and Gabriel. And that's what you want. You want these young players, if someone gets injured, he comes in, and the level doesn't drop. And it didn't drop with him. So he's nipping at the heels of the guys."

The emergence of Mosquera, Campbell argues, is only a good thing for the likes of Saliba, Gabriel and Arsenal as a whole.

“You need that pull and push and, you know, maybe keep everyone on their toes. And I think it's important for a football team, because sometimes you can drop off a little bit, and it takes a little edge off you,” he explained.

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