Football in Chile

Football in Chile
Country Chile
Governing body Federación de Fútbol de Chile
National team(s) Chile
First played 1867
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions

Football is the most popular sport in Chile.[1] The country's history of association football began with English sailors and their boat trips due to various commercial links between Chile and Great Britain in the 19th century.[2]

History

Estadio Nacional de Chile (National Stadium of Chile).

Football was first brought to Chile by the English that exhibited the sport during visits to the commercial ports such as in Valparaiso. Chileans living in the area would watch how the sport was being played. In 1880 Chilean aristocratic families incorporated the sport into their regular rituals which brought the first games in Chilean football.[3][4] This occurred within the confines of the British school called Mackay y Sutherland de Cerro Alegre in Valparaiso.

Chile's oldest club was founded in the port of Valparaiso, and it was named Valparaiso Football Club.[5] The governing body of Chilean football Federación de Fútbol de Chile was established in 1895. Chile was one of the founding members of CONMEBOL which launched the first South American international championship now known as the Copa America.

Other important factors that helped the sport of football spread in Chile were the club tours from other nations, such as Argentina and Peru, held in Chile. Furthermore, the first South American tournaments aided in making Chile a better force in the world of association football. By the time the 1930 FIFA World Cup took place in Uruguay, Chile gave a decent performance but was not able to reach the second round due to losing to Argentina and thus getting second place. The next major step in the international arena took place in the 1962 FIFA World Cup which was held in Chile, and a series of interesting stories were built around the victories of the Chilean team that brought the country joy after the terrible earthquake that had deeply hurt the nation. Although Chile did not win, the team was able to obtain 3rd place in the competition.

Currently, Chilean football remains a strong force in Latin America.[6][7] Colo-Colo has been the only Chilean club to win a Copa Libertadores championship: the 1991 Copa Libertadores. Also won the Copa Interamericana 1991 and the 1992 Recopa Sudamericana. Other clubs such as Cobreloa, Unión Española and Universidad Católica have played finals finishing in 2nd place. And Universidad de Chile has been the only Chilean club to win a Copa Sudamericana championship.

National teams

The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895.[8] They won Copa América in 2015 and 2016.[9] They have also appeared in 9 FIFA World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in 3rd place.[10][11]

A women's team, an under-20 team, and an under-17 team also compete.

In television

Football is the most watched sport on TV.

See also

National teams competitions:

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Matthew. "Football, History and Politics in Chile". NC State University. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  2. ↑ Edmundson, W. (26 October 2009). "A History of the British Presence in Chile: From Bloody Mary to Charles Darwin and the Decline of British Influence". Springer. Retrieved 4 March 2017 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ Guides, Rough (5 October 2015). "Rough Guides Snapshot Chile: Santiago". Rough Guides Limited. Retrieved 4 March 2017 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ rincondelvago.com. "Fútbol chileno".
  5. ↑ FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: Destination - Host Country - FIFA.com Archived 2008-08-30 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ "Chile's golden generation cannot obscure domestic chaos". 25 July 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  7. ↑ Chile escala y sueña Archived 2014-02-22 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ Wood, David (10 February 2017). "Football and Literature in South America". Routledge. Retrieved 4 March 2017 – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ Mazur, Martin (27 June 2016). "Chile's super-predators are now South America's most dangerous team". Retrieved 4 March 2017 – via The Guardian.
  10. ↑ "Football: Chile - 10 fascinating footballing facts". 11 February 1998. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  11. ↑ "A lasting stain on Chile and world football". 5 September 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
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