Football: A Vehicle for Social Transformation for Felipe Trujillo Hormaza

The expert led the planning, development, and completion of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which took place in Medellín, Colombia.

If there was one thing Felipe Trujillo Hormaza knew while growing up, it was that he would dedicate his life to football, specifically to its management and administration. This dream led him to specialize in Sports Law and Management at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, study Football Business Administration at the Johan Cruyff Institute, and train in Football Coaching at the Argentine Football Coaches Association.

A passionate advocate for sports, education, and entertainment, Trujillo understood from a young age that these tools have the power to transform lives and social realities, promote healthy habits, foster personal and community growth, and help people achieve their dreams.

He began his career in the private sector, organizing university-level sports events. In 2007, he gained his first professional experience when he joined the sports management team and later became the president of Academia Fútbol Club in Colombia’s Second Division. Later, Felipe joined Club Atlético Boca Juniors in Argentina. In 2009, he became the president of Bogotá Fútbol Club, and in 2013, he led the development of Colombia’s Ten-Year Plan for Security, Comfort, and Coexistence in Football in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior.

“While working with the Ministry, I got a close look at the reality of all the key players in Colombian football—organized fan groups, vendors, media, authorities, and many others involved in the sport. In 2014, I moved to Medellín to start a business and develop my professional and personal life. I opened a specialized indoor football center. Four years later, I was appointed Technical Development Manager at Deportivo Independiente Medellín, one of Colombia’s top professional football clubs,” he shared.

In 2021, he was offered the opportunity to serve as an international consultant for Club Cienciano del Cusco in Peru. Shortly after, he took over as its Commercial and Marketing Manager for two years. But his journey eventually brought him back to Colombia, where he took on a new challenge: leading the planning, development, and completion of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Medellín, which took place from August 31 to September 22, 2024.

“Beyond the infrastructure legacy left by the World Cup in Medellín—including improvements in technology, connectivity, dressing rooms, office facilities, and the stadium pitch—I believe the most important impact is the social and educational legacy. This event highlighted and honored the women athletes of Medellín, who have spent more than three decades building what is now the present of women’s football,” he emphasized.

Trujillo pointed out that Medellín is one of Colombia’s leading sports capitals and an international reference point. As proof, he highlighted several major sporting events that have taken place in the city, such as the 2010 South American Games, the 2011 FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup, the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup, and various Copa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores finals.

“Medellín has built a legacy for children and young people. It was essential to reclaim its status as a host for major events so that organizations like the International Olympic Committee, FIFA, CONMEBOL, and other federations see this city as a top destination. Large events bring national and international investment, infrastructure development, and a cultural and educational sports legacy for young athletes. They also help position Medellín as one of the most important tourist destinations in the world,” he highlighted.

Hosting a world-class tournament presents numerous learning opportunities, especially regarding FIFA’s high standards in logistics, operations, security, marketing, technology, and innovation.

One of the biggest challenges Felipe faced was the limited preparation time. “I joined the project in April, and we only had five months to organize it—far less than the minimum one year usually required for such global events. Nonetheless, we successfully prepared the stadium and met all the necessary requirements. Our four main priorities were: ensuring the pitch was in top condition, making stadium upgrades, improving technology, connectivity, and security, and equipping all designated areas with the necessary facilities. We met all deadlines without any setbacks,” he explained.

Regarding the public’s response, he noted that the match featuring the Colombian national team drew 32,587 spectators to the Atanasio Girardot Stadium, setting a record for the highest attendance in the history of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. “In total, we welcomed more than 56,000 fans to the stadium, averaging over 11,000 spectators per match—an impressive figure that broke all previous records for FIFA U-20 women’s tournaments.”

Economic impact studies by Medellín’s Economic Development Secretariat projected that the event attracted over 37,000 national and international visitors, generating an estimated economic impact of $21.5 million in transportation, hospitality, dining, and both formal and informal commerce.

“From a governmental perspective, I believe financial and infrastructure support for sports should be provided with determination. This is essential for developing more high-performance athletes and offering young people a positive and structured environment. To engage the local community, we decentralized the major events, taking them to different neighborhoods and rural areas so that every corner of the city could experience the excitement,” he concluded.

For Felipe Trujillo, Medellín must continue improving its infrastructure, hotel network, and transportation systems to meet the high standards required by global events. “Hosting world-class events in this city is not just a dream—it is a real possibility.”