Inside Medellín's Most Fierce Street Football Tournament

Description

In COPA90’s new series Soul Searching, Hashim Otban explores the world’s most intense street football tournament: Torneo del Barrio. On a mission to discover the soul of football, he enters grassroots worlds no one else can — or will. He steps away from overpriced tickets and VAR; he’s out in the streets, meeting the next generation who are defining the true future of the game. In this episode, Hash travels to Medellín’s most notorious barrio to experience the raw essence of football. Popularised by YouTube streams and attracting the likes of Luis Díaz, the tournament has transcended the microcosm of the barrio to become a national phenomenon. Through the semi-finals and final, Hashim meets players from opposing teams, unpacks the neighbourhood’s complex history, and captures the culture, struggle, and community spirit that inspire thousands of spectators to turn Torneo del Barrio into a gladiatorial affair. A COPA90 production. Director: Ali Cullen Hosted by: Hashim Otban Executive Producers: Jeremy Leibovitch & Ross Whittow-Williams Head of Production: Rob Michaels Head of Content: Jack Fletcher Producer: Ali Cullen Developed by: Ali Cullen, Daniel Parker & Jeremy Leibovitch Camera Operators: Ali Cullen, Maximiliano Ortega & Rubén Hernández Additional Cinematography: Jairo Iván Martínez Cuéllar, Juan Fernando jimenez López, Liberman, Arango Quintero & Zach Lowry Camera Assistants: Felipe González Cárdenas, Juan Sebastián Ramón González & Matt Vasquez Drone Pilot: Daniel Gómez Montoya Sound Recordist: Juan Pablo Silva Fixer & Translator: Juan Diego Quintero Editor: Dillon Steele Colourist: Phoebe May Sound Engineer: Steven Dove Post Production Coordinator: Oscar Sephton Title Design: Dan Levey Special Thanks: Futto, Jotadera & Torneo del Barrio