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 30 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.”
