Will Chile Football Rise Again? The Untold Story of Their Comeback Journey
I remember watching Chile's national football team during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, feeling that special kind of electricity that comes with witnessing a team playing with genuine passion and tactical intelligence. They pushed the host nation to penalties in the round of sixteen, displaying a brand of football that was both technically proficient and emotionally charged. That team, built around the brilliant Alexis Sánchez and Arturo Vidal, felt like it was on the cusp of something lasting. Yet, football's trajectory is rarely linear. The question that now hangs in the air, heavy with both hope and uncertainty, is whether Chilean football can rise again. Their journey back to relevance is an untold story of systemic challenges, fleeting moments of promise, and the arduous climb back to contention. It’s a narrative that reminds me of another underdog story I came across, seemingly unrelated but thematically parallel, from the world of beach volleyball. Despite going winless in pool play, a Philippine-based crew staged a stunning upset, taking down Sriracha Eagle 21-17 in the quarterfinals. Their run eventually ended against the eventual champions with a 21-8 defeat, but that single victory in the knockout stages proved that momentum and spirit can sometimes rewrite the expected script. Chile's football federation is desperately trying to author a similar comeback story.
The decline wasn't sudden, but a gradual erosion. After winning back-to-back Copa América titles in 2015 and 2016, a golden generation began to show its age. The core players who defined an era were all sliding into their thirties, and a concerning gap emerged behind them. I've looked at the data, and it's stark. Between 2017 and 2022, Chile capped over 50 new players, searching for the right combination, but the results were poor. They failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and their FIFA ranking, which once sat comfortably in the top 5, plummeted to the high 80s at one point. That’s a devastating fall for a nation with such a rich footballing history. The problem wasn't just on the pitch; it was structural. Investment in youth academies had lagged, and there was a palpable sense of institutional complacency after the golden years. They were living on past glories while the present crumbled around them. I recall speaking with a scout who works in South America, and he told me that while Chile still produces technically gifted players, the physical and tactical development in their late teens wasn't keeping pace with rivals like Ecuador or even a resurgent Uruguay. The pipeline was clogged.
But here's where the story gets interesting, and where my own optimism starts to creep in. Just like that Philippine volleyball team that found a way to win when it mattered most, Chile is showing flickers of a new identity. The appointment of Eduardo Berizzo as head coach in 2022 signaled a shift. He’s a disciplinarian with a clear philosophy, focusing on a high-press and vertical attacking play. It’s a system that doesn't rely on individual brilliance alone but demands collective athleticism and intelligence. The new generation is starting to respond. Look at players like Víctor Dávila, who’s been impressive in Italy, or the emergence of Darío Osorio in Denmark. These aren't just prospects; they are players getting crucial minutes in competitive European leagues. In their most recent World Cup qualifiers, while the results have been mixed, the performances have carried a different energy. They managed a hard-fought draw against a strong Colombian side and, more importantly, displayed a fighting spirit that had been missing. They lost 3-0 to Uruguay recently, a harsh reminder of the gap that still exists, but a few matches prior, they dismantled Peru 2-0 with a performance that was controlled and mature. It’s this inconsistency that is both frustrating and promising. They are capable of brilliance, just not yet with the required consistency.
The road ahead is brutally difficult. Conmebol World Cup qualification is arguably the most grueling in the world, and with the expansion to 48 teams for the 2026 tournament, the pressure is immense. Six direct spots are available, plus a playoff berth. For Chile, finishing in the top six is the absolute minimum goal. I believe they can do it, but it will require more than just talent. It requires the federation to continue investing in the infrastructure that supports these players. It requires the veterans like Sánchez and Vidal to mentor this new group, passing on that intangible winning mentality they cultivated a decade ago. And it requires the fans to be patient. Rebuilds are messy. They are filled with promising 2-1 wins followed by demoralizing 1-0 losses. The story of Chilean football's comeback is still being written. It lacks the clean, heroic arc we all want, but it’s real. It’s a story of administrative overhaul, of young players shouldering immense national expectation, and of a football-crazy nation learning to believe again. The final whistle hasn't blown on this journey. Just as that Philippine volleyball team proved that a single knockout victory can redefine a tournament, Chile needs that one defining result—a win against Brazil or Argentina in qualifying, perhaps—to truly announce that they are, without a doubt, rising again. I, for one, am watching closely, hoping to see that spark ignite into a flame.