Episode 2: A Colombian Story of Food, Music & Football

The 2026 World Cup is being played partly in the US, one of the most culturally rich nations on earth, a country home to over 100 communities.

With this in mind, FC Bayern has produced four documentaries exploring communities represented by players in our squad which will be published on the Clubs channels over the next weeks.

FC Bayern’s “Community Exploration” journeys into immigrant and diaspora communities across North America connected by football, heritage, and belonging. Guided by the club’s players, it dives into how football connects to language, heritage, and the places people call home.  

Each episode gives voice to community members themselves, their stories of migration, identity, and the role soccer has played in building a sense of home.

The series reflects a club whose identity is inseparable from the diversity of the world’s game.

Episode 2 ­| NYC: A Colombian Story of Food, Music & Football 

In this episode, the journey continues in Jackson Heights, Queens, home to one of New York City’s strongest Colombian communities. Through Alejandro Osorio of Arepa Lady and musician Andrea Chavarro of Lula Club, the episode explores how Colombian identity is carried through food, music, football, and the everyday joy of community.

For Alejandro, Arepa Lady is more than a restaurant. Founded by his mother, Maria Piedad Cano, after immigrating from Colombia, it became a place of stability for their family and a piece of home for Colombians in New York. What Alejandro once struggled to understand as a child later became a source of pride, connection, and responsibility. Today, he and his wife continue that legacy through a commitment to authenticity, preserving the flavors and traditions that allow people to feel close to Colombia, even from far away.

Andrea’s story brings another layer through music and self-expression. After traveling abroad and finding the confidence to sing in public, she co-founded Lula Club, an all-women salsa orchestra dedicated to preserving and sharing the richness of Latin music and culture. Through rhythm, history, and performance, Andrea shows how music can connect people emotionally, culturally, and spiritually.

Together, Alejandro and Andrea reflect the spirit of a community that continues to celebrate life through food, music, and football. In Jackson Heights, that pride comes alive on match days through the festive attitude Colombians carry wherever they go.