Jhon Arias returns to Mexico for World Cup debut a decade after rejection

Jhon Arias makes his World Cup debut Wednesday night at 23:00, and the stage is Mexico, the country where his career was nearly derailed before it started. A decade ago, Mexican clubs rejected him. Now the Colombian midfielder returns as one of Néstor Lorenzo's key figures for the opener against Uzbekistan (1). "It was a good experience in Mexico, a time that helped me mature, grow, and learn about a new culture," Arias told the World Football Index recently. "My first time outside my country. It helped me shape my character and showed me I could adapt to different situations." He lines up alongside James Rodriguez and Luis Diaz with a point to prove on Mexican soil.