Chile is the first South American country chosen to stage a FIFA Women's World Cup, a privilege that reflects the country's image as one of the most prosperous and stable in the region.

Football is without doubt the most popular sport in Chile, with 67 per cent of the population professing their support for at least one of the country's 32 professional clubs.

English residents of the city of Valparaiso pioneered the sport in the country. The first club was informally founded in mid-1889, though civil war meant that its officially foundation was delayed until April 10 1892.

British influence was essential in the creation of the Football Association of Chile, with thousands of followers swiftly jumping on the footballing bandwagon. Valparaiso FC were the first team to be officially registered, while football soon spread to Santiago, Iquique, Antofagasta, Coquimbo, La Serena and Concepcion.

The most significant moment in the history of Chilean football came with the organization of the 1962 FIFA World Cup. This fiesta, which saw the country come to a virtual standstill as fans turned out to witness the exploits of La Roja, remains engraved in the collective memory of thousands of Chileans.

The event marked a milestone for Chilean football, victory over Yugoslavia sealing third place for the host nation in what remains the national side's best performance at international level.

This achievement has meant that the likes of Humberto "Chita" Cruz, Raul Sanchez, Eladio Rojas, Adan Godoy, Manuel Rodriguez, Luis Armando Eyzaguirre, Jaime Ramirez, Jorge Toro, Carlos Campos, Armando Tobar and Leonel Sanchez will forever be a part of Chilean football history. Nearly forty years on, a bronze medal garnered at the Olympic Football Tournament Sydney 2000 brought further delight to fans of La Roja.

It is of course no easy task deciding on Chile's finest ever footballer, though the name of Elias Figueroa is often mentioned, as is that of Ivan Zamorano, the former national team captain and top scorer in Spain's Primera Division in 1994-95. Nor can we forget his erstwhile strike partner Marcelo Salas, Chile's all-time top goalscorer and a man considered to be among the best Latin American players in recent history.

History
Over the first half of the 16th Century, myriad indigenous communities inhabited the area which is now modern Chile. The 17 th Century was an extremely difficult period as it saw the Spanish Crown consolidate its grip over one of its most distant possessions. A new social class arose called the criollos, people born in Chile but descending from Spaniards, who became the main driving force of the independence movement.

Following a brief period of anarchy, Chile established itself with a republican government and a presidency in 1818, although September 18 1810 is the date celebrated as the national Independence Day.

A powerful executive body ran the country over four decades which encompassed strong civic, economic and cultural growth. Meanwhile, the aristocracy and political parties gradually began gaining access to presidential power, especially after the Pacific War against Peru and Bolivia (1879-1884).

As a consequence, Chile first became a "Liberal Republic" before subsequently being governed under a quasi-parliamentary system. This trend continued through to the mid-1920s, when the President was restored as the country's political figurehead.

In 1970, Salvador Allende was elected to lead a government which ran into a slew of economic problems as well as strong opposition from across the political spectrum. On September 11, 1973, a coup overthrew the Allende government and a military regime led by the Army's Commander in Chief Augusto Pinochet took over. In the late 1980s, Pinochet initiated a series of democratic reforms which culminated in a plebiscite on October 5, 1988. Pinochet stepped down on March 11, 1990, and Patricio Aylwin took over as the first President of the period known as "The Transition", characterised by the restoration of democratic rule and the establishment of a new national politic system.

The 1990s were marked initially by a fine economic performance after the Chilean market opened up to foreign businesses, but crisis returned anew by the end of the decade. Yet, with the arrival of the new millennium the economy bounced back. On January 15, 2006, Michelle Bachelet Jeria was elected the Republic of Chile's first ever female president. She is also the honorary president of the Local Organizing Committee of the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Chile 2008 and has thrown her full and enthusiastic support behind the cause.

Geography
Chile occupies a large, narrow territory which extends over an area of 4,200 kilometres straddling the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean on the south-western tip of South America. To the north lies Peru, the east Bolivia and Argentina and to the west the Pacific Ocean while logically the South Pole lies to the south.

The country covers a continental area of 756.252 km 2 and Chile's Antarctic Province extends over a further 1,250,000 km 2. Also under Chilean sovereignty are the San Felix Islands, San Ambrosio, Salas y Gomez, the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, as well as the Diego Ramirez Islands and Easter Island.

Chile's climactic and geographical make-up is highly varied, helping to make it an attractive global tourist destination. The climate is dry in the north, temperate in the central regions and humid and cold in the south.

In the far north the Atacama Desert extends from the Andean highlands down to the sea. The zone is rich in mineral resources and a hive of fishing and industrial activity. Its tourist attractions are centred on its cool-water beaches, its indigenous Andean hamlets and age-old nitrate-rich villages located deep in the desert.

The bulk of the population and economic activity is concentrated in an area extending from the north of the capital down to the city of Puerto Montt some 1,000 kilometres further south. The main tourist attractions lie in the lovely beaches of the central coastal strip and the beautiful lakes and volcanoes and rivers that offer abundant opportunities for fishing.

To the south of Puerto Montt, the territory changes once again and splits off into hundreds of islets, canals, glaciers and rivers which weave in and out of lush, virgin vegetation which stretches all the way to mountain creeks. It is an exceptional site for adventure holidays and offers rare opportunities for coming into direct contact with nature.

Right at the southern tip, running alongside the whole of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, is the Patagonian Pampa. The beautiful city of Punta Arenas, with its ancient mansions, has an attractiveness all of its own and is the starting point of visitor circuits taking in places of outstanding beauty and interest such as Torres del Paine, Fort Bulnes and the Antarctic Continent.

Economy
The Chilean economy is among the strongest in Latin America and, despite occasional periods of crisis, has managed to see solid growth in the past few years. Its chief activity is the export and exploitation of raw materials.

Chile is the world's largest copper producer. Mining accounts for more than 41 percent of national exports and Chilean exports of copper account for 36 percent of the world market.

The economy of the central and southern regions is based on agriculture and livestock. The export of fruit and vegetables has reached historic highs after opening up to European and Asian markets, as is also happening with timber and fishery. Production of wine has similarly taken off in recent years.

Chilean industry mainly draws on local supplies and efforts are afoot to bolster food and agriculture production with a view to making Chile a future leading world player in the sector.

Facts and Figures
Chile's population is estimated at 16,598,000 inhabitants.
The shape of the country is certainly peculiar and no other country is as long and as narrow.

The main religion is Catholicism, with 70 per cent of the population professing the faith.

The name Chile is said to come from the Mapuche word trih or chi, used to denote a bird with yellow streaks on its wings.

Spanish is the official language and is spoken without regional variation. Other languages spoken in outlying areas of the country are "Mapudungun" (a Mapuche tongue), "Rapa Nui" (spoken on Easter Island) and "Aymara" (spoken in the mountains in the north).