Club Deportivo Palestino
Palestino were founded in Santiago by Palestinian immigrants in 1920 and still wear the colours of the Palestinian flag. They are a two-time Chilean champion, the holders of a 44-game unbeaten record, and widely seen as Palestine’s second national team.
From Community Club to Champions
Palestino was set up to bring Santiago’s growing Palestinian community together through sport, and that community still forms the heart of the support. The club played in amateur leagues for decades before joining the professional game in 1952. Three years later it won its first Primera División title, in 1955.
The best era started in the mid-1970s. Coach Caupolicán Peña arrived in 1974 along with striker Oscar Fabbiani, and Palestino won the 1975 Copa Chile with a 4–0 final against Lota Schwager. In 1977 they beat Unión Española 4–3 to lift the cup again. The 1978 league title came with a Chilean record of 44 matches unbeaten, and a year later Palestino reached the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores before going out to Olimpia of Paraguay.
The wait for another trophy lasted 40 years. In November 2018, under Ivo Basay, Palestino beat Audax Italiano 1–0 and 3–2 in the Copa Chile final for a third cup, with Luis Jiménez among the scorers in the second leg.
The Shirt That Made Headlines
In January 2014 Palestino came out for the new season with a number 1 on the back of the shirt shaped like the map of historic Palestine, covering Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Israel’s Foreign Ministry raised concerns, and the ANFP fined the club roughly $1,300 for wearing the design in three official matches and ordered standard numbers. Club president Fernando Aguad accepted the ruling and changed the kit. For many supporters, the episode only underlined what the club stands for.
The link to the Palestine national team runs deep. Chilean-born players of Palestinian descent have been capped by Palestine, including Roberto Kettlun, who later returned to Palestino as sporting director. At home games in La Cisterna, Palestinian flags and keffiyehs are part of the scenery.
Farré’s Side Chasing a Top-Five Finish
Guillermo Farré took charge on 26 April 2026, replacing Cristián Muñoz. The Copa Sudamericana campaign ended early, with a 2–0 defeat to Grêmio in Porto Alegre on 20 May confirming elimination from Group F. League form has been much better. A 2–2 draw away to Deportes Limache in round 24, with goals from Sebastián Gallegos and Ronnie Fernández, left Palestino fifth in the Liga de Primera on 37 points.
Elías Figueroa
Red, Green, Black and White
Palestino’s colours mirror the Palestinian flag. The shirt has traditionally been built around red, green and white, with black trim, which is why the side is also called the Tricolor. Palestinian symbols turn up on the crest and kit designs, and as 2014 showed, the shirt is never just a shirt.
This FanFile covers Palestino as a club rather than one particular jersey. Check the crest, sponsor, manufacturer label and product code on your own shirt to identify its specific season and edition.
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