In a private space tucked away within warehouses in Doral, Fla., a crowd mingled as they waited to hear Juanes, Carlos Vives, Fonseca, retired soccer player René Higuita and former professional golfer Camilo Villegas talk about music, sports and changing the narrative about their native country, Colombia, in the world.
Earlier this month, as global attention turned to the FIFA 2026 World Cup, Billboard Español unveiled its June cover starring four of Colombia’s most beloved musicians: Vives, Fonseca, Juanes and pop artist Camilo, under the title “Patria, Paternidad y Fútbol (Nation, Fatherhood and Soccer).”
Juanes opened the doors of his office space and recording studio, adorned with some of his most treasured possessions — including Beatles memorabilia, a 500-piece puzzle of the cover of Metallica’s Ride The Lightning, a wall decorated with one row of his 29 Grammys and Latin Grammys and books on Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and David Bowie, among others — to a select group of friends, family and industry guests. The gathering celebrated the June issue and featured a panel with some of Colombia’s most influential figures in music and sports, moderated by Billboard Co-Chief Content Officer, Leila Cobo.
“As a Colombian, it fills me with such immense pride because, honestly, I’m part of the same generation as Juanes. We come from a country that has faced so many challenges, a country with a history marked by pain and bloodshed,” says Cobo. “To have been able, despite all of that, to hold on to everything beautiful, everything that makes us proud and to celebrate it today—it’s incredibly moving to me.”
The conversation unfolded inside the “La Camisa Negra” singer’s recording studio. A red carpet with Persian rugs covered the room that serves as Juanes’s space for playing live music and storing his collection of guitars, drums, pianos and other instruments. Chairs, couches, tables and even a bed had been arranged throughout the space, creating an intimate setting as Juanes, Vives, Fonseca, Higuita, Villegas and Cobo took their seats for the discussion.
Following the 45-minute panel, filled with laughter, heartfelt moments, tears and a wave of shared memories, the evening closed with an impromptu jam session. Fonseca, Juanes and Vives performed beloved Colombian classics, including Diomedes Díaz’s “Bonita,” before treating attendees to some of their own signature hits, such as Vives’ “La Celosa” and “La Tierra del Olvido.”
Here are some memorable quotes from the evening:
Carlos Vives on how the success of Colombian music brings pride to the country and people
“So many great things have happened with our music over the past few years, and Colombia deserves that. We’re standing here on the shoulders of the generations that came before us — generations that perhaps weren’t fully appreciated because we’ve never really valued what we have at home. We started changing that. Neither Carlos, nor Juanes, nor Fonseca stayed only in Colombia. We’ve taken our music to so many parts of the world.”
Juanes on appearing along with Carlos, Fonseca and Camilo on the cover of Billboard Español
“I know Carlos — we’re friends — Fonseca, Camilo, and it’s all been such a beautiful journey. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to get to know Carlos, who is someone I admire deeply. He was a huge influence on me. Fonseca and I have been friends for 26 years now. I met Camilo four or five years ago, and I was blown away by how friendly he is.”
“So, it was really special to think about the idea of coming together and being on the cover of the magazine, especially with soccer and everything that’s happening right now. Regardless of what happens with the World Cup, we’re here as a team, always.”
Fonseca on why the topics of “Patria, Paternidad y Fútbol (Nation, Fatherhood and Soccer)” made sense to him
“I loved the invitation because, in Colombia, we’re very family-oriented. And of course, our music, along with appreciating the generations that came before us — I think so many meaningful things came together in a single conversation. It was really beautiful to celebrate our nation, fatherhood and soccer.”
René Higuita’s honest take on how La Selección Colombia (Colombia’s national soccer team) is playing in the World Cup
“It’s never easy to win your opening match, and Colombia got the job done. Everyone expected them to win by a landslide, and they did score a third goal, but it was a hard-fought victory. Once you step onto the field, the adrenaline and the pressure of the World Cup make things anything but easy. They managed to pull it off, and in the second match, they looked much more relaxed. That’s what we’re hoping to keep seeing — that they continue to loosen up and play the way they did against DR Congo, because that was a really strong performance.”
Juanes on how the mind of a musician compares to that of a soccer player when performing
“You go out there to give it everything you’ve got. Whether there are three people, 100, or 1,000, you step onstage thinking, ‘I have to win this over no matter what. There’s no way I’m going to lose.’ Even if the show turns out to be difficult, you always have the mindset of an athlete, of a champion. It could be pouring rain, you could even risk getting electrocuted, and you’re still giving it absolutely everything.”
