Key keywords: Kevin Mier, Liga MX top goalkeeper, Colombia 2026 World Cup preliminary roster, 2026 FIFA World Cup, Colombian men’s national football team, Cruz Azul, CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, North American World Cup host sites Cruz Azul shot-stopper Kevin Mier, widely regarded as the best performing goalkeeper in Mexico’s top-flight Liga MX this season, has earned a spot on Colombia’s 55-man preliminary roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, announced by national team head coach Néstor Lorenzo earlier this week. The 24-year-old Colombian keeper has enjoyed a breakout campaign since joining Cruz Azul from Atlético Nacional ahead of the 2024 Liga MX Apertura, quickly cementing his place as the club’s undisputed first-choice keeper with a string of elite performances. Across 19 league appearances so far this term, Mier has registered 12 clean sheets, posted an 86.7% save success rate, and made a league-leading 32 saves from shots on target inside the penalty area, numbers that far outpace every other keeper in the competition. His consistent heroics have lifted Cruz Azul to second place in the Liga MX table, with the club sitting just two points behind leaders Club América with three matches remaining in the regular season. Prior to his move to Mexico, Mier had only earned two senior caps for the Colombian national team, both coming in friendly matches against CONCACAF opponents in 2023. His inclusion in the World Cup preliminary squad comes as little surprise to regular Liga MX viewers, who have praised his lightning-fast reflexes, calm distribution from the back, and ability to make high-pressure saves in decisive moments. Lorenzo noted in a post-announcement press conference that Mier’s experience playing week in and week out across North America was a key factor in his selection, as the 2026 World Cup will be hosted across 16 sites in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with a wide range of climate conditions, altitude levels, and stadium environments. Mier, who spoke to reporters after the roster announcement, called the call-up "a dream come true" and added that he is focused on maintaining his form for Cruz Azul for the rest of the season to earn a spot in the final 26-man roster that will travel to the World Cup next summer. Colombia currently sits third in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table, with 24 points from 12 matches, well on track to secure automatic qualification for the 2026 tournament, which has expanded to 48 teams for the first time in history.