TODAY WE CELEBRATE 98 YEARS OF HISTORY!

This Thursday, February 13, América de Cali celebrates 98 years of history, struggles, joys and above all, great passion, thanks to a fervent fan base for the Scarlet Red, in every corner of Cali, in the municipalities of Valle and in all the cities of Colombia and the world.

The story goes that on February 13, 1927, the day considered the official founding date, the "new" América played a match against the Marist Brothers team in Yanaconas. The game started at nine o'clock; the first half ended two-nil in favor of América, but they had to let the other team tie it 3-3 to avoid losing the beer and food they had been offered. The precise date was indicated by Benjamín Urrea, one of the founders of the scarlet team, who went down in history with the nickname Garabato.

Once founded, América FC began to win titles. Within a year of its establishment, it won the second-division departmental championship, defeating Alférez Real (formerly Boyacá) in the final. It had also defeated Colombia. América's first championship was won on September 29, 1927.

About our name and colors

According to Luis Hernando Lenis, the team's name originated from a seemingly insignificant comment made by the captain of the Uruguayan national team in 1924. "A good name for a team is America," declared the captain of the sky-blue squad; from then on, that's what the red-clad team from Cali has been called. Lenis also said that in a publication of El Gráfico, a columnist's comment, "The little black boys of America look like red devils…," made a particular impression, and from that moment on, the team began to wear all red.

Another theory about the origin of the name and colors, one of the most widely accepted, states that the name was chosen as a tribute to América Foot Ball Club (the 1918 team), and the choice of colors stems from the fact that during the 1931 tour, some team members attended a basketball game as spectators between the teams of Unión Colombia and the Diablos Rojos. The latter wore all red, and as a result, América decided to continue playing in red, from top to bottom, colors that were officially adopted around 1936.

This Thursday, February 13, América de Cali celebrates 98 years of history, struggles, joys and above all, great passion, thanks to a fervent fan base for the Scarlet Red, in every corner of Cali, in the municipalities of Valle and in all the cities of Colombia and the world.

The story goes that on February 13, 1927, the day considered the official founding date, the "new" América played a match against the Marist Brothers team in Yanaconas. The game started at nine o'clock; the first half ended two-nil in favor of América, but they had to let the other team tie it 3-3 to avoid losing the beer and food they had been offered. The precise date was indicated by Benjamín Urrea, one of the founders of the scarlet team, who went down in history with the nickname Garabato.

Once founded, América FC began to win titles. Within a year of its establishment, it won the second-division departmental championship, defeating Alférez Real (formerly Boyacá) in the final. It had also defeated Colombia. América's first championship was won on September 29, 1927.

About our name and colors

According to Luis Hernando Lenis, the team's name originated from a seemingly insignificant comment made by the captain of the Uruguayan national team in 1924. "A good name for a team is America," declared the captain of the sky-blue squad; from then on, that's what the red-clad team from Cali has been called. Lenis also said that in a publication of El Gráfico, a columnist's comment, "The little black boys of America look like red devils…," made a particular impression, and from that moment on, the team began to wear all red.

Another theory about the origin of the name and colors, one of the most widely accepted, states that the name was chosen as a tribute to América Foot Ball Club (the 1918 team), and the choice of colors stems from the fact that during the 1931 tour, some team members attended a basketball game as spectators between the teams of Unión Colombia and the Diablos Rojos. The latter wore all red, and as a result, América decided to continue playing in red, from top to bottom, colors that were officially adopted around 1936.

🇦🇹 Today, Colombia's most popular team is celebrating. 👹

We celebrate 98 years of passion and greatness, of struggle and rewards.

Of nights of great football and partying, of titles and great feats.

From shouting with all your heart the goals of Pitufo, Adriancho and La Fiera.

With pride,… pic.twitter.com/NWk0xZnfuQ

— América de Cali (@AmericadeCali) February 13, 2025