James returns to Minnesota United following hospitalization
Quick Reads
- James Rodríguez returned to Minnesota United’s training facility on Monday, April 6, for a supervised session after spending three days in hospital with severe dehydration.
- The 34-year-old Colombian captain fell ill the day after playing 63 minutes in Colombia’s 3-1 loss to France on March 29 in Landover, Maryland.
- Minnesota United’s medical staff confirmed there is zero clinical or laboratory evidence of rhabdomyolysis, directly dismissing media speculation about a potentially fatal muscle condition.
- Rodríguez’s return to full team training will be determined entirely by clinical progress, with no return-to-play date set.
- Colombia face Uzbekistan on June 17 in their 2026 World Cup opener, with fewer than 70 days until the tournament begins.
James Rodriguez Returns to Training as Minnesota Clears Up Health Scare
Colombia captain James Rodríguez stepped back onto the training pitch at Minnesota United’s facility on Monday after a worrying week that saw him spend three days in hospital, with the club firmly rejecting reports of a life-threatening condition.
Rodríguez began developing symptoms of severe dehydration the day after Colombia’s 3-1 defeat to France on March 29 in Landover, Maryland. Upon returning to Minneapolis the following day, his condition worsened, and he was admitted to a Minnesota hospital on the morning of Tuesday, March 31, for IV fluid therapy and continued monitoring. He was discharged after 72 hours and spent the remainder of the week recovering at home under medical supervision, missing his club’s 2-1 victory over the LA Galaxy on April 4.
Minnesota United moved quickly on Monday to control the narrative surrounding their marquee signing. Some US media outlets had reported that Rodríguez may be suffering from rhabdomyolysis, a severe breakdown of muscle tissue that can, in extreme cases, be fatal. The club’s statement left no room for ambiguity: The club and our medical professionals can unequivocally state there has been no clinical or laboratory evidence of rhabdomyolysis. The club also called on the media and the public to stop speculating about his health.
The Colombian Football Federation had laid out the timeline clearly earlier in the week. On Sunday, March 29, Rodríguez participated in Colombia’s friendly against France, during which and after the final whistle, he began experiencing dehydration symptoms that worsened in the hours that followed. The federation’s statement, translated from Spanish, described the hospitalization as preventive and confirmed the episode was not connected to any musculoskeletal injury or football activity. Head coach Cameron Knowles, speaking after the Galaxy win, described his player as “day to day” and confirmed the medical team was in constant contact with Rodríguez. Knowles said the reintegration process would be gradual and depend entirely on how the player responds physically.
The timing adds weight to a story that goes well beyond club football. Rodríguez signed with Minnesota United in February on a short-term arrangement running through the World Cup window, arriving from Liga MX club León. He had played just twice for the club before his hospitalization, totaling 39 minutes, and had also logged 63 minutes earlier in the international break during Colombia’s 2-1 loss to Croatia in Orlando on March 26. The back-to-back matches, combined with the Minnesota medical episode, have placed his readiness for the summer tournament under scrutiny. Colombia are in Group K and face Uzbekistan, DR Congo, and Portugal, with high hopes of progressing into the knockout stages.
By the Numbers
- 3 — Days Rodríguez spent in hospital (March 31 – April 3)
- 63 — Minutes played against France, his longest outing since a November 2025 international friendly against Australia
- 63 — Minutes played against Croatia three days earlier, March 26
- 2 — Total MLS appearances for Minnesota United this season, covering just 39 minutes
- 6 — Goals scored by Rodríguez at the 2014 World Cup, earning him the Golden Boot
- June 17 — Colombia’s first World Cup match, against Uzbekistan
