The box office of the heart: the historic return of the Colombia National Team to heal the wounds of the earthquake in Cali

Friendly match against Chile projects an economic impact of $10.5 billion pesos and a charitable purpose for victims of the earthquake. The Colombian national team held its last training session in Cali, before hosting Chile at the Pascual Guerrero stadium, in an atmosphere of solidarity and social events. Photo: Cali Mayor's OfficeJOURNALIST11.12.2026 18:47 Updated: 11.12.2026 18:47 After nearly three decades of absence, the Colombian senior men's national team returns to the turf of the Pascual Guerrero Olympic Stadium. Its return, marked by the friendly match this Friday, November 13 against Chile, goes beyond the sporting realm to become an engine of social and economic reconstruction following the devastating earthquake that struck the capital of Valle del Cauca on August 10. Head coach Néstor Lorenzo highlighted the welcome from the people of Cali and the charitable nature of the match. Photo: Cali Mayor's OfficeDuring his meeting with the media this Thursday, the national team's head coach, Néstor Lorenzo, emphasized the deeply social purpose of this visit. "The message is that the national team comes to bring joy, to bring people together. I know that reconstruction takes a long time. I want to tell them not to stop helping, not to forget, and that we should all have the attitude of coming together to show solidarity with the people who suffered," said the Argentine strategist, who revealed that the proposal to play in Cali was accepted immediately by the Colombian Football Federation to contribute to the city. SEE ALSO A close encounter with children and the presentation of the keys to the cityThe eve of the match was filled with great emotion at the América de Cali sports facility in Cascajal. Boys and girls from various football schools in the city arrived there to watch their idols train. Amid applause and shouts of excitement, the players spent time with the young fans. The Pascual Guerrero is ready for the historic match against Chile. Photo: Cali Mayor's OfficeIn a coordinated effort between FIFA, the Colombian Football Federation, and the Cali Mayor's Office, 100 boys and girls received new cleats through the international Boots for All program, an initiative that seeks to promote access to sports. "This is a historic moment for the city. The national team is not only playing in Cali, but arrived with cleats for our children and allowed them to come watch this practice. In addition, the proceeds from the match will go to the victims of the earthquake," said Mayor Alejandro Eder. During the event, the local leader, along with social manager Taliana Vargas, presented the keys to the city and declared the Colombian national team 'Guest of Honor'. A charitable event with children was also held, led by the Mayor's Office and the FCF. Photo: Cali Mayor's OfficeEconomic reactivation and support for the victimsThe impact of the match will be felt directly on Cali's streets and businesses. According to projections by the Department of Economic Development, the match will generate financial activity of close to $10.5 billion pesos. Of this amount, about $4 billion will come from the spending of the approximately 4,500 tourists expected, and $6.5 billion will come from ticket sales. However, the greatest triumph of this event is its charitable purpose: all of the resources collected at the gate will be used to support families affected by the earthquake, channeled through the Cali Mayor's Office's food assistance initiatives in coordination with the World Food Programme (WFP). The return of the 'Tricolor' thus stands as a boost to Cali's reactivation, demonstrating that football is also a vehicle for unity, hope, and resilience for an entire region. Demolition of buildings in Cali. Photo: Follow all the news from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. EL TIEMPO NEWSLETTERSSign up for our newsletters and receive news in your inbox based on your interests. Stay informed about what really matters to you. EL TIEMPO GOOGLE NEWSFollow us on GOOGLE NEWS. Always stay up to date with the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on Google News. EL TIEMPO WHATSAPPJoin El Tiempo's WhatsApp channel to stay up to date with the most relevant news as it happens. EL TIEMPO APPStay informed with the EL TIEMPO app. Receive the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on your device. SUBSCRIBE TO THE DIGITAL EDITIONReliable information for you. Subscribe to EL TIEMPO and access our journalistic content without limits.