Talk&Boom
As soon as you land at El Dorado Airport, you’ll feel the pulse of Colombia’s intense football culture. You’ll immediately notice that Colombia has its fair share of fans who are passionate about their team winning the local league.
After all, Europe, Colombia, and Latin America are not so different when football comes on stage. If you visit a local pub on a Sunday afternoon, you will probably feel back home, with fans screaming at the TV, cheering for their favourite team to win.
But is Colombia Good at Football?
Currently ranked as the 9th football team by FIFA, Colombia’s national team stands tall globally. As members of CONMEBOL, Colombia goes head-to-head with some of the world’s top teams, becoming the region’s third-best and winning second place in the 2024 Copa America tournament. But they have close competition. The national team plays with powerhouses like Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay in a region of World Cup winners.
Getting to Know Colombia’s Football History
You probably have heard about some of the 90s legends of Colombian football before: “El Pibe” Valderrama, René Higuita, and Tino Asprilla were the pioneers who put Colombian football on the map. Valderrama is famous for his skill and iconic blond hair afro. Higuita, the daredevil goalkeeper, was known for his unbelievable “scorpion kick” during a friendly game with England in 1996. And Asprilla, with his speed and skill, could outmanoeuvre any defender and make his way into the enemy’s territory to score in the blink of an eye.
Photo courtesy of Colombia Reports: Colombia’s 1990 World Cup by Stephen Gill. URL: https://colombiareports.com/amp/colombias-1990-world-cup/
With this team, Colombian football made its mark internationally. These players showed the world what Colombian passion and talent looked like, creating a legacy that still inspires today’s younger generations.
The New Generation of Colombian Football
Inspired by Colombian football’s golden era in the 1990s, these new superstars arrived as the country’s future promises. James Rodríguez, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, Radamel Falcao, and Jackson Martínez all shined as unique players, making Colombia stand out as an international-class football team.
However, something was still missing for this country to become an internationally renowned team during the 2000s. While individual talent rose, Colombia lacked the team spirit characterising big and reputable football teams. They lacked the discipline and unity necessary to achieve brilliant results in football, but everything changed when José Néstor Pékerman entered the coaching team.
José Néstor Pékerman played a crucial role in shaping the Colombian football team. He turned an unorganised–and even problematic–team into a close family, showing that diversity is Colombia’s strength on the football field rather than being a barrier.Under his guidance, the team showed its skills and how they multiplied their power when the team played united as one.
Colombia’s Most Important Recent Matches
Interested in knowing more about how the Colombian football team performed against international teams like England, Spain, and Argentina? Here’s a brief history of their recent matchups:
- July 3, 2018: In this FIFA World Cup, Colombia matched England’s strength for a 1-1 draw in regular time. However, the match ended in a penalty shootout, with the Brits winning by a close call.
- March 22, 2024: Colombia demonstrated a remarkable feat against a champion-world Spain, winning the match by one goal, courtesy of Daniel Muñoz at West Ham’s London Stadium.
- July 14, 2024: This Copa América final was perhaps a bittersweet loss for Colombia. On the one hand, the country saw once again the “tricolor” team against the world champion. On the other hand, Argentina scored the decisive goal during extra time, which left the team–and country–feeling miserable.
Has Colombia Ever Won a World Cup?
Despite participating in the World Cup on six occasions: 1962, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2014, and 2018, Colombia hasn’t won the championship title just yet. However, the Colombian football team’s standout performance came in the 2014 World Cup, hosted by Brazil, where they reached the quarter-finals and lost against the host by 2-1.
Has Colombia Ever Won the Copa America?
Colombia has reached the Copa América final three times. Their first final in 1975 ended in a loss to Peru. In 2001, Colombia won the championship on home soil by beating Mexico. Their latest final was in 2024 against Argentina, where they finished second, losing against the world champion by a goal of difference.
The most popular football teams in Colombia
While Atlético Nacional, funded in 1948 in Antioquia, is the largest fan-following club in Colombia, with an impressive 15 million fans registered and 16 national titles, Millonarios–one of the most important Colombian football teams in Bogotá—is a close second with almost 13 million fans and an impressive record of 23 national titles won.
However, Atlético Nacional is currently ranked as the 11th strongest national league in the world at the end of 2023, making it one of the most important football teams nationally and internationally.
While these two teams have competed against each other on countless occasions, one of the most classic–and intense—games ever played in the Colombian football league is Millonarios vs. Santa Fé, both Bogotan teams, and Nacional vs. América de Cali.
Celebrating the Colombian Football Passion
Classic matches like Manchester City vs. Liverpool, Colombian matches make fans go crazy. These games are the reason why millions of fans come together to celebrate a deeply rooted football culture in the country.
Similar to most of Europe, football in Colombia is well embedded in its history. Clubs are a big part of local communities, with stories that go back decades. People feel a strong connection to their hometown teams, and it even affects their mood, whether their team wins or loses.
And Colombian women’s football teams are getting the attention they’ve long deserved. Their hard work and impressive performances are winning hearts and changing the game while inspiring thousands of Colombian girls to play football. Fans are cheering, the media is noticing, and more support is coming in.
When you come to Colombia, no matter if you go to Bogotá, Medellin, Cali, or any other city, don’t forget to walk their streets and get to know the Colombina football scene, where every game feels like the final of the World Cup.
