The Match of Our Lives

During the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a soccer match titled "The Match of Our Lives" was held between Indigenous Peoples and soccer players from Colombian national women's teams. The aim was to call attention to Indigenous Peoples’ vital contributions to environmental stewardship and the need for recognition of Indigenous rights and sovereignty in global conservation efforts.  

The Match of Our Lives took place on October 27, 2024, in the city of Cali, Colombia, and was organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Nia Tero in collaboration with the Dimayor (División Mayor del Fútbol Colombiano), the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, the National Commission of Indigenous Territories of Colombia, If Not Us Then Who?, The Tenure Facility and other allies.  

The event was supported by the COP 16 Participation and Mobilization team of the Colombia Ministry of the Environment and was aligned with COP 16's overarching theme, "Peace with Nature," emphasizing a human rights-based approach to biodiversity protection.  

Indigenous Peoples are the most important defenders of our planet's future. Their knowledge systems help to sustain approximately 40% of our planet’s intact ecosystems and landscapes. It is not by chance that deforestation rates are significantly lower in Indigenous territories. Indigenous Peoples safeguard 3.8 billion hectares of land and water.