BOGOTA — Colombia’s national soccer jersey has become a subject of controversy during the country's 2026 presidential election. Abelardo de la Espriella, who received the most votes in the first round held Sunday, often wears the yellow national team jersey while speaking to supporters at rallies, where he is usually protected by suited bodyguards and bulletproof glass.

Iván Cepeda, the runner-up in the first round and candidate for the ruling Historical Pact party, accused de la Espriella of misappropriating a national symbol. “The national (soccer) team belongs to all of us. Stop stealing things that belong to the entire nation,” Cepeda wrote on social platform X. He called the use of the jersey at political events an “opportunistic act” whose legality should be examined. Cepeda asked his supporters to refrain from wearing Colombia’s national jersey or any other national symbols at his rallies. “Let’s run a clean, transparent campaign,” he said.

De la Espriella has not replied to Cepeda’s comments on the use of the national soccer jersey. However, members of his campaign are encouraging supporters to wear the national soccer jersey as much as possible to defy Cepeda and President Gustavo Petro’s government. Congressman Daniel Briceño, a de la Espriella supporter, said, “This jersey, besides showing support for our players, now also represents the defense of the freedoms that Cepeda wants to take away from us.”

Political marketing consultant Carlos Andrés Arias said that politicians from Cepeda’s party, including Petro, have used Colombia’s yellow jersey at rallies and in political ads, though less consistently. Arias said that de la Espriella benefits from using the jersey because it evokes patriotism, a value he promotes at rallies. He added that Cepeda’s efforts to stop opponents from using the jersey at rallies are likely to backfire, strengthening the link between de la Espriella’s campaign and the jersey. “People will now think that wearing the jersey is a sure way to support de la Espriella,” he said.

Colombia’s National Football Federation, which owns the marketing rights to the national jerseys, said it has no way to control how its jerseys are used in non-commercial events, though it expressed regret that they are being used for purposes unrelated to sports. The runoff election between de la Espriella and Cepeda is scheduled for June 21.