The air crash occurred on November 28, 2016, near the José Maria Cordova airport in Medellin, Colombia, when the plane carrying Chapecoense's delegation to play against Atlético Nacional in the Copa Sudamericana final crashed due to fuel exhaustion. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of 71 people, including most of Chapecoense's players.
Chapecoense was declared the winner of the 2016 Copa Sudamericana at Atlético Nacional's request. The Brazilian club has since made a comeback in the Serie A Brazilian league this year, after being relegated to Serie B in 2021 due to the consequences of the air crash.
The match on September 26 will be played at the Atanasio Girardot stadium in Medellin, where Atlético Nacional is based. Chapecoense announced on their X account that the match is a tribute to the victims of the tragedy, saying "Two jerseys, a story that transcends football." The two clubs have a special bond since the tragedy, with both teams wearing green jerseys.
Among the six survivors of the air crash were three players: Alan Ruschel, who continues to play for Juventude in the Serie B Brazilian league at 37 years old, Neto, who retired in 2019 due to the consequences of the crash, and Jakson Follmann, a former goalkeeper who had his leg amputated and now works as a preacher and singer.