Colombia’s women’s national team is through to the quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the celebration extended well beyond the field. Enter former Colombia player and Olympian Melissa Ortiz, whose emotional reaction to her team qualifying went viral on a day when Colombia’s achievement is being celebrated well beyond the confines of Latin America.
For Ortiz, it wasn’t just about the basic facts – Colombia beat Jamaica 1-0 to advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face England next. It was about the journey. She, after all, has been part of this Colombia team that has been one of the tournament’s biggest surprises and that features one of the FIFA Women’s World Cup’s biggest stars: Linda Caicedo.
And Ortiz was emotional after the game, celebrating in the Fox Sports studio, where she provides post-game commentary and brings a player’s perspective into the room. This reaction came after Catalina Usme, who she picked as the best attacker in the tournament, scored a goal that got Colombia through to the next round.
The Cafeteras, as they are nicknamed, are the first South American team to qualify for the quarterfinals since Brazil in 2011.
“It’s literally history in the making,” Ortiz said while holding back tears because she’s been on the national team but didn’t reach these heights.
“This isn’t just about the women’s soccer team, this is about all women in Colombia, in South America,” she added, as she called back to the numerous fights that women in Colombia, and in many other places, have had – not just for equal pay, but for respect, and for a chance to do what they love, fights Ortiz was at the forefront of.”
And though the fight for equality in fútbol and outside of it isn’t over, today, Colombia’s team still gets to celebrate. And we celebrate with them, and with Melissa Ortiz.
Colombia will face England in a game set to be played Saturday, August 12 at 6:30 AM ET.
