Peru National Football Team

Peru National Football Team

Federación Peruana de Fútbol
(Peru Football Association)
Founded in 1922

The Peru national football team, representing Peru in men’s international football, has been organized by the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) since 1927. The FPF is one of the ten members of FIFA’s South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL). Peru has won the Copa América twice and has qualified for the FIFA World Cup five times, with their last appearance in 2018. They also participated in the 1936 Olympic football competition and reached the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The team primarily plays its home matches at the Estadio Nacional in Lima, the capital of Peru.

Clad in distinctive white shirts adorned with a diagonal red stripe, Peru’s national team combines the country’s national colors. This iconic design, in use since 1936, has earned the team the nickname “la Blanquirroja” (“the white-and-red”). Peruvian football fans are known for their spirited cheer “¡Arriba Perú!” (“Onward Peru!”) and their exuberant celebrations. Peru shares a longstanding rivalry with Chile.

Peru’s football success has been marked by notable periods, particularly in the 1930s and the 1970s. The 1930s generation led Peru to the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930 and won the 1938 Bolivarian Games and the 1939 Copa América. The 1970s generation qualified Peru for three World Cups and won the Copa América in 1975, featuring legendary players like Héctor Chumpitaz, Hugo Sotil, and Teófilo Cubillas. Cubillas and Teodoro Fernández are regarded as Peru’s greatest players.

Paolo Guerrero holds the record for the national team’s all-time top goalscorer, with 39 goals, while Roberto Palacios and Yoshimar Yotún are the most-capped players, with 128 appearances each. Since December 2023, Peru has been managed by Jorge Fossati.

In terms of history, Peru’s football roots trace back to the late 19th century when British immigrants and returning Peruvians introduced the sport. The Lima Cricket Club, founded in 1859, played a crucial role in popularizing football among the local upper class. Peru’s football league was formally established in 1912, with the FPF reorganizing the annual tournament in 1926. Peru made its debut at the 1927 South American Championship and participated in the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930.

Peru experienced its first golden era in the 1930s, marked by notable achievements such as winning the Copa América and participating in international tournaments. The 1970s saw another golden period, highlighted by Peru’s qualification for multiple World Cups and victory in the Copa América. However, the team faced challenges and underwent periods of decline, particularly in the late 20th century due to internal issues and a tragic plane crash involving Alianza Lima players and staff.

Under the management of Ricardo Gareca, Peru experienced a revival in its football fortunes, achieving notable successes such as reaching the quarter-finals of the Copa América Centenario and qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after a 36-year absence. Following Gareca’s departure in 2022, Juan Reynoso took over as coach but faced challenges, leading to Jorge Fossati’s appointment as the new coach.

OléMundo Chat – Peru Forum