The season was notable for being the beginning of El Dorado, during which many international football stars arrived to the Colombian league, especially from Argentina, due to the protests that were taking place in that country. The tournament began on 25 April 1949. The debutants teams were Atlético Bucaramanga, Boca Juniors de Cali, Deportivo Barranquilla, Deportivo Pereira and Huracán de Medellín. This year Universidad returned to Bogotá. Deportivo Barranquilla participated to replacing Atlético Junior, who was representing Colombia in the South American Championship. Barranquilla only played 21 of the 26 league matches.