Kevin Viveros has received his first call-up to the senior Colombia national team on Thursday, September 17, 2026, celebrated with an emotional embrace from his wife and children. The announcement was made by coach Néstor Lorenzo as part of the roster for friendly matches against Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru.
The 26-year-old forward was captured in a video with his family reacting to the news of his inclusion in the Colombian squad. The footage, shared by Athletico Paranaense, shows the intimate celebration taking place at his home immediately following the announcement.
This call-up marks Viveros’ first official inclusion in the senior national team, although he had previously been part of preliminary rosters under Lorenzo, including the squad for the 2026 World Cup pre-selection. Before this, Viveros had represented Colombia in the U-20 category, participating in three matches during the 2018 South American Games, but did not receive additional calls for national duties until recently.
Viveros began his professional career in 2018 with América de Cali and has since played for several clubs, including Atlético Cali, Leones, Carabobo in Venezuela, Deportivo Cali, FK Sarajevo, La Equidad, and Atlético Nacional. His tenure at Carabobo was particularly notable, as he scored 21 goals in 34 appearances, marking a significant point in his career.
At Atlético Nacional, he gained regular playing time and featured in the 2025 Copa Libertadores, where he was prolific, scoring three goals across 24 matches following his arrival in late 2024. In the first half of 2025, he further made his mark by netting 10 times in 27 games, contributing two assists according to statistics from Sofascore.
Viveros signed with Athletico Paranaense in mid-2025 for a transfer fee of five million dollars, the largest investment in the club’s history for a newcomer. Since joining the club, he has scored 29 goals and provided seven assists in 57 matches, solidifying his role as a key offensive player and leading to his first senior national team opportunity.
As he prepares for the upcoming friendlies, Viveros leads the Brazilian Serie A with 18 goals. He has an additional goal in other competitions this year, securing his status as Athletico Paranaense’s top scorer for the season. Néstor Lorenzo’s recent 26-player roster includes five forwards, with Viveros joining Luis Javier Suárez, Carlos Andrés Gómez, Camilo Durán, and Óscar Perea in the attacking lineup.
Lorenzo, during a press conference, indicated that the national team is in a “transition and renewal” phase. He mentioned that the coaching staff aims to rest several regular players to evaluate those who have been on the radar but have not had previous chances to play. “We need to give different players a chance so that the jersey does not weigh on them and to show that what they do at their clubs can also be replicated in the national team,” Lorenzo stated. He also highlighted the goal of familiarizing with new additions and assessing their performance in international matches. Colombia’s upcoming friendlies are scheduled against Mexico on September 26, Paraguay on October 2, and Peru on October 6, taking place in the United States, as part of a new process looking ahead to the 2028 Copa América, qualifying matches, and the 2030 World Cup.
Source: www.infobae.com
