Chilean Primera División
The Chilean Primera División, officially known as the Campeonato Nacional, is the top professional football league in Chile.
Established in 1933, it features Chile’s most historic clubs such as Colo-Colo, Universidad de Chile, and Universidad Católica, forming one of South America’s most competitive leagues.
History and facts
The Primera División was founded in 1933 when the Chilean Football Association organized the first nationwide professional tournament. Since then, Chilean football has grown into a major power in South America.
The league typically consists of 16 teams competing in a round-robin format, playing home and away matches.
The country’s biggest rivalry is the Superclásico, contested between Colo-Colo and Universidad de Chile.
League system
The Primera División is the top tier of Chilean football, with relegation to Primera B and promotion for top-performing teams from the second division.
Table 1. Chilean football tiers
| League | Tier |
|---|---|
| Primera División | 1 |
| Primera B | 2 |
| Segunda División Profesional | 3 |
| Tercera División A | 4 |
Below the fourth tier, the structure continues with regional amateur leagues.
Stats
Teams with most titles
Table 2. Clubs with most Primera División titles
| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Colo-Colo | 33 |
| Universidad de Chile | 18 |
| Universidad Católica | 17 |
| Cobreloa | 8 |
| Unión Española | 7 |
| Audax Italiano | 4 |
| Palestino | 2 |
Colo-Colo is the most successful club in Chilean football history.
Teams with most league participation
Table 3. Clubs with most Primera División seasons
| Club | Seasons |
|---|---|
| Colo-Colo | 90+ |
| Universidad de Chile | 85+ |
| Universidad Católica | 80+ |
| Audax Italiano | 70+ |
| Unión Española | 70+ |
Colo-Colo is the only club that has never been relegated from the Primera División.
Audience
Stadium capacities
Table 4. Major stadiums in Chile
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Colo-Colo | Estadio Monumental | 47,000 |
| Universidad de Chile | National Stadium (shared) | 48,665 |
| Universidad Católica | San Carlos de Apoquindo | 20,000 |
| Cobreloa | Estadio Zorros del Desierto | 12,000 |
| Unión Española | Santa Laura Stadium | 22,000 |
Players
Top goalscorers
- Francisco “Chamaco” Valdés — all-time top scorer
- Esteban Paredes — modern era leading scorer
- Pedro González
- Jorge Aravena
- Oscar Fabbiani
Chilean Primera División timeline
1933
The first professional Chilean league season begins.
1940
Universidad de Chile rises as a major national competitor.
1973
Cobreloa emerges as a powerful force in Chilean football.
1991
Colo-Colo wins Copa Libertadores, the only Chilean club to achieve this.
2020
Season suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilean_Primera_División
https://www.anfp.cl
https://www.rsssf.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilean_Primera_División
https://www.anfp.cl
https://www.rsssf.org
