The Colombian women’s national football team is gearing up to defend its runner-up title at the Copa América Femenina, following a substantial commitment from the Colombian Football Federation (FCF) to support women’s football in the country. Over the past six years, the FCF has invested more than 38 billion pesos in various areas, including training, facilities, competitions, and support for national teams.
The breakdown of yearly investments is as follows:
– In 2019, the investment was 1.074 billion pesos.
– In 2020, this amount rose to 2.261 billion pesos.
– The following year saw an allocation of 911 million pesos.
– In 2022, there was a significant leap to 15.516 billion pesos for costs associated with accommodation, transportation, coaching staff, and performance incentives.
– Recent investments have maintained a strong foothold, with 9.125 billion pesos in 2023 and 9.561 billion pesos in 2024, along with an additional 2.9 billion pesos directed to support the women’s professional league through Dimayor.
According to the FCF, these investments have enabled national teams to play a total of 16 matches in 2024, including the Copa Oro Femenina and the Paris Olympics, alongside numerous international friendlies and training camps. The U20 women’s team played 17 official matches, while the U17 team played 21 matches in 2022, achieving significant milestones, such as the U17 team finishing as runners-up at the World Cup in India.
Recent achievements also include the senior women’s team reaching the quarter-finals at the 2023 FIFA World Cup and climbing to 18th in the world rankings as of July 12, 2025. The U20 futsal team won the CONMEBOL South American Championship in 2024, while the senior team secured a third place at the South American Championship, qualifying for the first FIFA World Cup in the Philippines.
With the Copa América Femenina set to commence on July 11, 2025, in Ecuador, the Colombian team is positioned in Group B alongside Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela, and Bolivia. This tournament not only serves as a platform for competing for the title but also as a qualifying event for the upcoming Olympic Games. The Colombian women’s team has been a runner-up in three of the last four tournaments and is eager to capture its first continental title, with key players like Linda Caicedo and Mayra Ramírez highlighting the squad.
Scheduled matches for the tournament include:
– **July 16**: Venezuela vs. Colombia, 7:00 PM (Colombian time)
– **July 19**: Colombia vs. Paraguay, 7:00 PM (Colombian time)
– **July 22**: Colombia vs. Bolivia, 4:00 PM (Colombian time)
– **July 25**: Brazil vs. Colombia, 7:00 PM (Colombian time)
The investment and support from the FCF reflect a growing commitment to elevate women’s football in Colombia. As the Copa América approaches, the hope is that the Colombian women’s team will build on its past successes and achieve a historic victory in the tournament.