Sport in Medellin

Medellin's two big football clubs are Atletico Nacional and Deportivo Independiente Medellin. Nacional has the bigger following and a larger trophy cabinet (they proudly, others would say arrogantly, call themselves the 'Rey de Copas' (king of cups) due to thier 10 domestic championships and the 1989 victory of the prestigious Copa Libertadores (South America's version of the European Cup)). Medellin have a more modest history, but have calimed a couple of championships in recent years (in 2002 over arch-rivals Nacional and in 2009 against Atletico Huila).

Fans of Atletico Nacional (left), and Deportivo Independiente Medellin (right)

Both teams play their home games at the Atanasio Giradot stadium (take Metro line B to Estadio station) which has a capacity of around 45,000. Clasico (derby) day is an awesome spectacle. Many paisas will tell you to avoid the stadium when clasicos are being played, however it's not as dangerous as they would have you believe and if you sit in the pricier parts of the stadium, wear a neutral coloured shirt (white usually does the trick) and refrain from throwing flares at opposing fans you'll almost certainly be fine.

Atanasio Giradot Stadium

Envigado football club, situated just outside the metropolitan area of Medellin, also currently play their football in the top league. They play their matches at the small Polideportivo Sur stadium. They have never won a title, but occasionally reach the playoffs.

Antioquia's other two teams are Rio Negro and Bajo Cauca. Both currently play in Division B, although Rio Negro came mighty close to winning promotion to the top flight, but lost on aggregate to Envigado in the relegation/promotion playoff of 2008.


In March/April 2010 Medellin held the Juegos Suramericanos (South American Games). The games were a resounding success and ended with Colombia atop the medals table for the first time in the games' history.

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