Colombian Football Federation
Governing body for association football, futsal, and beach soccer in Colombia.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
The Colombian Football Federation, commonly known as the Federación Colombiana de Fútbol or Colfútbol, is the national governing body for football in Colombia. It administers and represents Colombian football at international level and is affiliated with FIFA and CONMEBOL. Its responsibilities cover the Colombia men's national football team, the Colombia women's national football team, youth selections, futsal teams, beach-soccer teams, and other national representative programs. The federation traces its institutional origins to Barranquilla, where the Liga de Football Atlántico was established on 12 October 1924. The organization received formal recognition from the Colombian government in 1927. In 1936, its statutes were expanded to include clubs and leagues from additional Caribbean cities, and it adopted the name Asociación Colombiana de Fútbol, or Adefútbol. Colombia's application for FIFA membership was approved in principle at the FIFA Congress in Berlin on 14 August 1936, with the acceptance subsequently communicated to the Colombian association in October of that year. Colombian football entered a turbulent professional era in the late 1940s. The professional league was created in 1948, followed by the División Mayor del Fútbol Colombiano, known as Dimayor. During the El Dorado period beginning in 1949, Colombian clubs recruited prominent foreign players while operating outside FIFA's transfer framework. FIFA suspended Colombia, describing the practice as player “piracy.” The dispute was resolved through the Pacto de Lima in 1951, under which Colombia was readmitted and agreed to return foreign players by September 1954. Institutional rivalry continued between Adefútbol, Dimayor, regional leagues, and later organizations. A proposed alternative structure known as Codefútbol emerged in 1958 but did not become the national authority. In 1964, Dimayor and several regional leagues created the Federación Colombiana de Fútbol, or Fedebol, with Alfonso Senior Quevedo as president. FIFA recognized Fedebol provisionally at its 1966 Congress in London. A general assembly on 15 June 1971 formally established the modern Federación Colombiana de Fútbol, using the acronym FCF or Colfútbol, with Eduardo Carbonell Insignares as its first president. The FCF operates within a federated structure that includes two important subordinate bodies. Dimayor administers professional club competitions, including Colombia's top two divisions, the Copa Colombia, and the Superliga Colombiana. The División Aficionada del Fútbol Colombiano, or Difutbol, organizes amateur and regional competitions. This structure gives the federation a coordinating and representative role while leaving the direct operation of professional and amateur domestic competitions to specialized bodies. The federation also manages national-team preparation and development infrastructure. Its facilities include administrative and sporting headquarters in Bogotá, the Casa de las Selecciones Colombia training complex in Barranquilla, inaugurated on 13 October 2021, and a high-performance center in Cali. The current FCF emblem was designed in 1971 by Colombian graphic designer Rosalba Chiriví de Gélvez at the request of then-president Alfonso Senior Quevedo, in advance of the 1971 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament. Colombia was awarded the right to host the 1986 FIFA World Cup in 1974, but the country relinquished the hosting rights in November 1982 after President Belisario Betancur concluded that Colombia could not satisfy FIFA's infrastructure requirements. Colombia was later assigned the 2001 Copa América after CONMEBOL presidents agreed in 1987 to rotate hosting rights. The federation remains the institutional representative of Colombian football, coordinating national selections, international affiliations, player development, and the relationship between national teams, professional football, and amateur competition.
History
The institutional history of Colombian football begins in Barranquilla. On 12 October 1924, the Liga de Football Atlántico was created as an organized regional football body. The Colombian government formally recognized the organization in 1927. During the 1930s, the association broadened its scope beyond Atlántico: Carlos Lafaurie Roncallo convened an extraordinary assembly on 8 June 1936 to include clubs from Santa Marta, Cartagena, and other Caribbean cities. The organization was renamed the Asociación Colombiana de Fútbol, or Adefútbol. Adefútbol obtained national recognition through Resolution 72 of 1936, signed by President Alfonso López Pumarejo. Its application to FIFA was approved in principle at the FIFA Congress held in Berlin on 14 August 1936, with FIFA Secretary-General D. J. Schuther later confirming the association's acceptance in a letter dated 17 October. This established Colombia's formal place within international football governance. The growth of professional football created a new institutional challenge. Colombia's professional league was founded in 1948, and Dimayor emerged as the body responsible for organizing professional club football. Beginning in 1949, the El Dorado period saw Colombian clubs sign major foreign players while operating outside FIFA's normal transfer system. The practice was linked to player strikes and disputes elsewhere in South America, but it led FIFA to suspend Colombia for what it regarded as unauthorized recruitment or “piracy.” Colombia was readmitted on 24 October 1951 through the Pacto de Lima. Under that settlement, foreign players were to be returned by no later than 15 September 1954. Disputes over authority continued after readmission. In 1958, twelve regional leagues, led by Antioquia, Cundinamarca, and Valle del Cauca, organized a rival national championship and created Codefútbol. The initiative did not gain lasting authority. Tensions between Adefútbol and Dimayor became particularly acute before the 1962 World Cup qualifying process. CONMEBOL ruled in favor of Dimayor in December 1961, reflecting the difficulty of maintaining a single coherent national structure. A new reorganization began in 1964. Dimayor and several regional leagues met in Villa del Rosario on 19 June and created the Federación Colombiana de Fútbol, commonly called Fedebol. Alfonso Senior Quevedo was elected president. FIFA recognized Fedebol provisionally at its 1966 Congress in London and assigned it the task of helping reorganize Colombian football. On 15 June 1971, a general assembly formally established the Federación Colombiana de Fútbol under the acronym Colfútbol. Eduardo Carbonell Insignares became its first president. The modern federation developed as an umbrella institution rather than a conventional league operator. Dimayor became responsible for professional club competitions, including the Primera and Segunda divisions, Copa Colombia, and Superliga Colombiana. Difutbol took responsibility for amateur and regional competitions. The FCF retained responsibility for national teams, international representation, and coordination across the football system. Hosting decisions have also shaped the federation's history. FIFA awarded Colombia the 1986 World Cup in 1974, but President Belisario Betancur announced in November 1982 that Colombia would relinquish the event because it could not satisfy FIFA's infrastructure requirements. In 1987, CONMEBOL presidents agreed to rotate Copa América hosting rights, and Colombia was assigned the 2001 tournament. The federation's institutional identity was reinforced by its emblem, designed in 1971 by graphic designer Rosalba Chiriví de Gélvez at the commission of Alfonso Senior Quevedo. In the twenty-first century, the FCF expanded its physical infrastructure. Its facilities include administrative and sporting headquarters in Bogotá, a high-performance center in Cali, and the Casa de las Selecciones Colombia in Barranquilla, inaugurated on 13 October 2021. Ramón Jesurún Franco has served as president since 2015. The federation today governs and represents Colombia's men's, women's, youth, futsal, and beach-soccer national teams while coordinating with the professional and amateur bodies that organize domestic football.
- 2021
National-team training complex inaugurated
[1]The Casa de las Selecciones Colombia opened in Barranquilla on 13 October.
- 2001
Colombia hosted the Copa América
[1]Colombia staged the Copa América after receiving hosting rights under CONMEBOL's rotation arrangement.
- 1982
1986 World Cup hosting rights relinquished
[1]Colombia withdrew from hosting the 1986 World Cup because required infrastructure could not be provided.
- 1971
Modern FCF formally established
[1]The federation was formally constituted on 15 June under the Colfútbol name.
- 1966
FIFA provisionally recognized Fedebol
[1]FIFA recognized Fedebol provisionally at its London Congress and tasked it with helping reorganize football in Colombia.
- 1964
Fedebol created
[1]Dimayor and regional leagues formed Fedebol as part of an effort to create a stronger national football authority.
- 1951
Readmission to FIFA
[1]Colombia returned to FIFA under the Pacto de Lima after the El Dorado-related suspension.
- 1948
Professional league created
[1]The establishment of professional football led to the creation of Dimayor and a lasting division between national governance and professional competition administration.
- 1936
Adefútbol formed and FIFA membership approved
[1]The association broadened its national membership, adopted the Adefútbol name, and received approval in principle for FIFA membership.
- 1927
Government recognition granted
[1]The Colombian government formally recognized the organization through Resolution 34.
Products and positioning
Colombia's central governing and representative institution for football, combining national-team management, international federation membership, player development, and coordination of professional and amateur football structures.
National team
Colombia men's national football team
The senior men's national team is the federation's principal international representative in FIFA and CONMEBOL competitions, including World Cup qualifying and the Copa América. The FCF manages its administration, player selection framework, technical preparation, international fixtures, and related training operations.
National team
Colombia women's national football team
The senior women's national team represents Colombia in international women's football. It is administered by the FCF alongside the federation's other national selections, with support for preparation, competition participation, and player development.
Youth national teams
Colombia youth national teams
The federation administers Colombia's youth selections, which provide representative pathways for developing players and compete in age-group international football under FIFA and CONMEBOL structures.
Futsal
Colombia national futsal teams
The FCF governs Colombia's futsal national selections and represents the country in the international futsal system.
Beach soccer
Colombia national beach-soccer teams
Beach-soccer national selections operate under the federation's broader mandate for football variants and national representation.
Professional football governance · 1948
Dimayor competitions
Through the federation's institutional structure, Dimayor governs Colombia's professional club football, including the top two divisions, Copa Colombia, and Superliga Colombiana.
Amateur football governance
Difutbol competitions
Difutbol organizes amateur and regional competitions within the Colombian football system, complementing Dimayor's professional role.
Marketing campaigns
- 2001Copa América Colombia
Colombia · South America
Colombia hosted the Copa América after CONMEBOL adopted a rotating approach to tournament hosting and assigned the 2001 edition to the country.
Outcome. The tournament was held in Colombia.
Brand decisions
2021
Open the Casa de las Selecciones ColombiaProduct launchBackground
The federation sought to strengthen its national-team preparation and high-performance infrastructure.
Action taken
The FCF inaugurated a national-team training complex in Barranquilla on 13 October.
Aftermath
The facility became part of the federation's network of administrative, sporting, and high-performance sites.
1982
Relinquish 1986 World Cup hosting rightsOtherBackground
FIFA had awarded the 1986 World Cup to Colombia in 1974, but the country could not meet the required infrastructure commitments.
Action taken
President Belisario Betancur announced in November that Colombia would give up its hosting rights.
Aftermath
The 1986 World Cup was reassigned, and Colombia did not host the tournament.
1971
Formally establish the modern federationStrategyBackground
Earlier structures had produced competing claims over the organization of Colombian football.
Action taken
A general assembly formally constituted the Federación Colombiana de Fútbol under the Colfútbol acronym.
Aftermath
The FCF became the central national governing and international representative body, while Dimayor and Difutbol retained specialized domestic roles.
1964
Create FedebolStrategyBackground
Conflict between Adefútbol, Dimayor, and regional leagues created uncertainty over national football authority.
Action taken
Dimayor and several regional leagues established the Federación Colombiana de Fútbol, known as Fedebol, with Alfonso Senior Quevedo as president.
Aftermath
FIFA granted Fedebol provisional recognition in 1966 as part of a reorganization process, preceding the formal establishment of the modern FCF in 1971.
1951
Accept the Pacto de Lima conditionsStrategyBackground
Colombia had been suspended by FIFA during the El Dorado period because Colombian clubs recruited foreign players outside FIFA's transfer framework.
Action taken
The Colombian football authorities accepted readmission terms requiring foreign players to be returned by 15 September 1954.
Aftermath
Colombia was readmitted to FIFA on 24 October 1951.
Recent events
- 2021
Casa de las Selecciones Colombia opened[1]
Product launch
The federation inaugurated its national-team training complex in Barranquilla on 13 October, expanding its preparation and high-performance infrastructure.
- 1987
Colombia assigned Copa América hosting rights[1]
Other
Following a CONMEBOL agreement to rotate Copa América hosting rights, Colombia was assigned the 2001 edition.
- 1982
Colombia relinquished 1986 World Cup hosting rights[1]
Other
President Belisario Betancur announced that Colombia would not host the 1986 FIFA World Cup because the country could not meet FIFA's infrastructure requirements.
- 1971
Modern FCF formally established[1]
Other
A general assembly formally established the Federación Colombiana de Fútbol under the Colfútbol name, with Eduardo Carbonell Insignares as its first president.
- 1964
Fedebol created amid institutional conflict[1]
Other
Dimayor and several regional leagues formed Fedebol, a rival national football body that FIFA later recognized provisionally as part of a reorganization process.
- 1951
Colombia readmitted through the Pacto de Lima[1]
Regulation
After suspension connected with the El Dorado era and unauthorized international transfers, Colombia returned to FIFA under an agreement requiring the eventual repatriation of foreign players.
- 1936
Colombia admitted to FIFA[1]
Other
FIFA approved Colombia's membership in principle at its Berlin Congress, followed by formal communication of acceptance to the Colombian association.
- 1924
Colombian football association established in Barranquilla[1]
Other
The Liga de Football Atlántico was formed on 12 October, creating the institutional foundation from which Colombia's national football federation later developed.
Sources2 sources
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