Electoral Contenders and Institutional Crisis
The race to succeed outgoing Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional (ANFP) president Pablo Milad has entered a decisive phase with the official presentation of two competing lists, as reported by El Dínamo. The upcoming vote on November 19 arrives during a period of severe institutional strain marked by poor international results for Chilean selections and sweeping legislative changes. A central element of this transformation is the implementation of the new Ley de Sociedades Anónimas Deportivas (SADP) reform, which legally separates the ANFP from the Federación de Fútbol de Chile (FFCh), the public entity governing national teams.
Both factions have rejected media-sponsored debates. The Clinic reported that representatives from one ticket dismissed an invitation by stating, “We are not going to have a debate that does not correspond. It is not a vote among your public. We already showed our faces, we delivered the program.” The opposition ticket offered a similarly blunt refusal, declaring they would not debate their rivals. Observers note that because the ANFP operates as a private entity where decisions rest strictly with club presidents, candidates are under no formal obligation to publicly air differences or programs outside the boardroom.
Jorge Yunge and Continuity Ticket Allegations
Jorge Yunge, the current ANFP secretary general and former vice president of Rangers de Talca, heads the continuation ticket backed by several Primera División and Primera B clubs. El Dínamo outlined Yunge’s slate, which includes Sofía Galdames of Deportes Copiapó as vice president, Andrés Sánchez of Santiago Wanderers as secretary general, and former Universidad de Chile president José Luis Navarrete as treasurer, alongside Iván Cisternas, Andrés Alvarado, and Freddy Palma.
Yunge’s path to the ballot has faced intense scrutiny.
Jorge Uauy and the Opposition Slate
Challenging the incumbent administration is the “Unidos per el Cambio” ticket led by Jorge Uauy, the current president of Palestino who brings over a decade of leadership experience to the ballot, as documented by El Dínamo. This marks Uauy’s second bid for the ANFP presidency following his narrow defeat to Sebastián Moreno in 2018. His roster features former Cruzados president Juan Tagle as vice president, Coquimbo Unido president Jorge Contador as secretary general, and Diego Livingstone of Deportes Concepción as treasurer, alongside Karina Mazú, Ignacio Melhech, and Eduardo Ramírez.
The opposition ticket has similarly weathered heavy internal politicking and unverified rumors.
La Roja Coaching Decision and Future Bench Options
The incoming administration will immediately confront the task of appointing a permanent head coach for the senior men’s national team following the extended interim tenure of Nicolás Córdova. El Dínamo reported that national teams manager Felipe Correa confirmed Córdova will remain in charge through the November FIFA international window, postponing the permanent appointment until the new board takes office.
The federation has evaluated several candidates matching a profile focused on competitive preparation and elite player development. Among the names linked to the post are Manuel Pellegrini—whose contract with Real Betis runs through June—and Julen Lopetegui, whose current compensation package with Qatar presents significant financial hurdles for the Chilean federation. Additional candidates discussed in regional sporting circles include Gustavo Álvarez of Liga de Quito and Juan Pablo Vojvoda, though Álvarez publicly urged caution regarding speculation surrounding his current commitments in Ecuador.
November 19 Election Schedule
Club presidents will convene on November 19, 2026, to cast their ballots in the closed-door ANFP presidential election, setting the leadership direction for Chilean club football and dictating the structure for the impending separation between the league office and the national federation.
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