In Colombia, football is much more than a sport — it is part of the everyday language of millions of people. It is played in parks, academies, synthetic pitches, and in any space where a ball can roll. But from the very beginning, it is experienced from a special place: the neighborhood.

While professional football dominates headlines, the reality is that 99% of football in Colombia is amateur football.

Today, more than 4.2 million Colombians play football, representing nearly 6% of the country’s population. In addition, there are over 250,000 registered under-23 players, many of whom are looking for opportunities to showcase their talent and continue pursuing the dream of reaching professional football.

With that mission in mind, Copa Trinche RushBet was created — a tournament founded by Novo Fútbol that has become a key platform for highlighting amateur talent and one of the largest football communities in the country.

From a Local Tournament to a National Platform

The first edition of Copa Trinche took place in 2021. At the time, the project started with a modest structure but a clear vision: 32 teams, 960 players, and a single host city — Bogotá.

The idea was simple but powerful: to create a space where footballers who had no place in professional football could compete, showcase their abilities, and become part of a community that celebrates neighborhood football talent.

Over the years, that initiative continued to grow until it became a true movement within Colombian amateur football.

In 2026, the sixth edition of Copa Trinche RushBet will be played. The Bogotá edition is already underway and represents a major leap in scale and impact. This year’s tournament will feature:

• 136 teams
• 4,080 players
• 558 matches
• 157 matchdays
• An estimated 66,000 spectators attending matches throughout the tournament
  

The competition is also no longer limited to a single city. Today it is played across five regions of the country: Bogotá, Antioquia, Atlántico, Caldas, and Valle del Cauca, expanding its reach and consolidating itself as the largest neighborhood football tournament in Colombia.

Technology Bringing Visibility to Neighborhood Football

One of the key elements behind the evolution of Copa Trinche RushBet has been its integration with us at Torneo by Sofascore, a partnership that allows amateur competitions to be organized with a level of data and information comparable to professional football.

Through this, every match in the tournament includes complete coverage of statistics, lineups, and results, making the competition’s information visible to a global audience.

Read more: How to Manage Your Tournament?

For many players, participating in a tournament managed through this platform means more than simply playing matches every weekend. It means that their performance begins to be recorded and visible within a digital football ecosystem.

Every match played, every goal scored, and every statistic generated becomes part of a sporting record that can continue to grow over time.

Lineups, results, statistics, and match data are tracked in real time, providing a level of visibility and professionalization rarely seen in amateur football.

A Record That Follows a Player’s Development

One of the major contributions of Torneo by Sofascore to amateur football is the ability to document a player’s journey from the earliest stages of their career.

As some footballers progress into more competitive environments — and even reach professional football — their matches and performance data are already connected within the Sofascore ecosystem.

This opens new opportunities for talent development and visibility, allowing players to build a more complete sporting record from the earliest moments of their careers.

Instead of remaining invisible until reaching professional leagues, a player’s development can now be observed over time — from their first amateur tournaments to higher levels of competition.

Read more: From Torneo by Sofascore to the Top: How U17 Talents Are Already Becoming First-League Players

In that sense, Torneo by Sofascore continues helping amateur football become not only a competitive space, but also a gateway into a global football ecosystem.

A Launchpad to Professional Football

Beyond the numbers and the technology, the competition has also proven to be a true talent incubator.

Several players who once competed in Copa Trinche have gone on to reach professional football, including:

• Kevin Castaño, currently playing for River Plate and the Colombia national team
  
• Juan José Ramírez, now at Llaneros FC, after spells with Orsomarso S.C. and Millonarios FC
  
• Jordan García, currently with Club León, formerly of Fortaleza F.C.
  
• Nicolás Rodríguez, now at Atlético Nacional, also with a past at Fortaleza F.C.
  
• Andrés Ferrín, currently at Naples FC
  
• Francisco Melendre, now playing for Cancún FC
  

Their journeys reflect the true impact of the tournament: serving as a bridge between neighborhood football and the professional game.

A Community That Keeps Growing

The impact of Copa Trinche also extends beyond the pitch. Across five editions of the tournament, more than $1.000 million Colombian pesos in prize money has been awarded, reinforcing the competition’s commitment to recognizing the talent and effort of its players.

At the same time, the project has built a digital community of more than 140,000 people across social media, establishing itself as one of the most influential brands in Colombian amateur football.

The Future of Amateur Football

The story of Copa Trinche RushBet shows that amateur football can reach extraordinary levels when community, organization, and technology come together.

Thanks to its integration with Torneo by Sofascore, matches played on neighborhood pitches are now part of a global football ecosystem.

For Sofascore, this tournament represents one of the strongest examples of amateur football growth in Latin America and a clear demonstration of how technology can help showcase talent from every corner of the world.

Because many of football’s greatest stories do not begin in packed stadiums.

They begin in the neighborhood — and on Sofascore where every game counts.