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Peru national football team facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Peru women's national football team.
Quick facts for kids
Peru
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) La Bicolor
(The Bicolour)
La Blanquirroja
(The White and Red)
La Rojiblanca
(The Red and White)
Los Incas
(The Incas)
Association Peruvian Football Federation (FPF)
Confederation CONMEBOL
(South America)
Head coach Jorge Fossati
Captain Paolo Guerrero
Most caps Roberto Palacios (128)
Yoshimar Yotún (128)
Top scorer Paolo Guerrero (39)
Home stadium Estadio Nacional
FIFA code PER
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 20 Steady (7 February 2019)
Highest 10 (October 2017)
Lowest 91 (September 2009)
Elo ranking
Current 16 Decrease 4 (3 March 2019)
Highest 10 (23 March – 9 June 2018)
Lowest 72 (7 June 2009)
First international
 Peru 0–4 Uruguay 
(Lima, Peru; 1 November 1927)
Biggest win
 Peru 9–1 Ecuador 
(Bogotá, Colombia; 11 August 1938)
Biggest defeat
 Peru 0–7 Brazil 
(Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia; 26 June 1997)
World Cup
Appearances 5 (first in 1930)
Best result Quarter-finals (1970, 1978)
Copa América
Appearances 34 (first in 1927)
Best result Champions (1939, 1975)
Panamerican Championship
Appearances 2 (first in 1952)
Best result Fourth place (1952, 1956)
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Appearances 1 (first in 2000)
Best result Semi-finals (2000)
Medal record
Copa América
Gold 1939 Peru Team
Gold 1975 South America Team
Silver 2019 Brazil Team
Bronze 1927 Peru Team
Bronze 1993 Peru Team
Bronze 1949 Brazil Team
Bronze 1955 Chile Team
Bronze 1979 South America Team
Bronze 1983 South America Team
Bronze 2011 Argentina Team
Bronze 2015 Chile Team
Bolivarian Games
Gold 1938 Bogotá Team
Gold 1948 Lima Team
Gold 1961 Barranquilla Team
Gold 1973 Panama City Team
Gold 1981 Barquisimeto Team
Bronze 1951 Caracas Team
Bronze 1977 La Paz Team
Website fpf.pe

The Peru national football team (called Selección de fútbol del Perú in Spanish) is also known as La Bicolor (The Bicolour). This team represents Peru in men's international football games. The Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) has organized the team since 1927. The FPF is one of ten members of FIFA's South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL).

Peru has won the Copa América twice. They have also played in the FIFA World Cup five times, most recently in 2018. The team also took part in the 1936 Olympic football competition. They even reached the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Most of their home games are played at the Estadio Nacional in Lima, Peru's capital city.

The team wears special white shirts with a red stripe going across them. These colors come from the Peruvian flag. This design has been used since 1936. It's why the team is often called la Blanquirroja ("the white-and-red"). Peruvian football fans are famous for their cheer ¡Arriba Perú! ("Onward Peru!"). They also have big celebrations. Peru has a long-standing rivalry with Chile.

The Peru national team had its best times with talented players from the 1930s and 1970s. The 1930s team played in the first FIFA World Cup in 1930. They won the 1938 Bolivarian Games and the 1939 Copa América. Key players included goalkeeper Juan Valdivieso and forwards Teodoro Fernández and Alejandro Villanueva. The 1970s team made it to three World Cups. They also won the Copa América in 1975. This team had great players like defender Héctor Chumpitaz and forwards Hugo Sotil and Teófilo Cubillas.

Paolo Guerrero is the team's top goalscorer of all time, with 39 goals. Roberto Palacios and Yoshimar Yotún have played the most games, both with 128 appearances. Since December 2023, Jorge Fossati from Uruguay has been Peru's coach.

The Story of Peruvian Football

Main article: History of the Peru national football team
Peru national football team parading in 1927 South American Championship
Peru's first game at the 1927 South American Championship in Lima.

In the 1800s, British people living in Peru and Peruvians returning from England brought football to the country. In 1859, British people in Lima started the Lima Cricket Club. This was Peru's first club for sports like cricket, rugby, and football. These sports became popular among richer people. But their growth stopped because of the War of the Pacific (1879-1883) between Peru and Chile.

After the war, football became very popular in Peru's coastal areas. In Lima's neighborhoods, football was a daily activity. Factory owners even encouraged it to help workers feel united and work better. In the port of Callao, British workers and sailors played with locals. Soon, rivalries grew between locals and foreigners, and then between different parts of Peru. This led to Peru having a very strong football culture. Historian Andreas Campomar said Peru played "some of the most elegant and accomplished football on the continent."

The Peruvian Football League started in 1912. It held yearly games until 1921. The Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) was formed in 1922. It restarted the yearly tournament in 1926. The FPF joined the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) in 1925. After fixing its money problems, the FPF created the Peru national football team in 1927.

The team played its first game in the 1927 South American Championship in Lima. Peru lost 0–4 to Uruguay in their first match. They then won 3–2 against Bolivia. Peru did not get past the first stage of the first FIFA World Cup in 1930.

The 1930s were the team's first "golden era." They got better by playing against more experienced teams. A team of Chilean and Peruvian players, called the Combinado del Pacífico, toured Europe from 1933 to 1934. Peruvian clubs also toured Latin America and did very well. During one tour in 1935, a skilled group from Alianza Lima emerged. They were called the Rodillo Negro ("Black Roller"). This group included forwards Alejandro Villanueva, Teodoro Fernández, and goalkeeper Juan Valdivieso. A sports historian called them "a soccer triumvirate unsurpassed in the world at that time." Peru and the Rodillo Negro played well at the 1936 Summer Olympics. They won the first Bolivarian Games in 1938. They ended the decade as South American champions.

Later, Peruvian football faced challenges. Historian David Goldblatt said that Peruvian football "disappeared" from its earlier success. He believes this was due to authorities limiting groups among the poor in the 1940s and 1950s. Still, Peru did well in the South American Championships. They finished third in 1949 and 1955. They almost qualified for the 1958 World Cup, losing to Brazil.

Peru Argentina 1970 World Cup Qualifiers
Oswaldo Ramírez scored goals against Argentina to help Peru qualify for the 1970 World Cup.

In the late 1960s, Peru's football had another great period. They qualified for the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. The strong partnership between forwards Teófilo Cubillas and Hugo Sotil was key to Peru's wins in the 1970s. Peru reached the quarter-finals in 1970. They lost to Brazil, who won the tournament. Peru also won the first FIFA Fair Play Trophy for playing fairly. Five years later, Peru became South American champions for the second time. They won the 1975 Copa América. The team then qualified for two more World Cups. They reached the second round in 1978 and the first group stage in 1982. After 1982, Peru's famous "flowing football" style faded. However, Peru almost made it to the 1986 World Cup. They finished second in their qualifying group, behind Argentina. From 1970 to 1982, Peru was one of the best teams in the world.

By the late 1980s, people had high hopes for a new group of young players from Alianza Lima. They were called Los Potrillos ("The Colts"). Fans hoped they would qualify for the 1990 World Cup. But these hopes were crushed when the team faced a tragedy. Their manager and several players died in a plane crash in 1987. After this, Peru only came close to reaching the 1998 World Cup. They missed out by a small goal difference. But they did win the 1999 Kirin Cup in Japan. They also reached the semi-finals at the 1997 Copa América and the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Qualifying for the FIFA World Cup remained difficult for Peru in the early 2000s. There were challenges with player behavior and problems within the FPF. FIFA even temporarily stopped Peru from playing international games in 2008. This was because the Peruvian government was looking into problems within the FPF. The FPF's new leaders appointed Juan Carlos Oblitas as director and Ricardo Gareca as manager in 2015. Journalists said Gareca helped Peru's football get better. He improved player training and professional behavior. Under Gareca, Peru played in the 2018 World Cup. They also finished second at the 2019 Copa América. Peru just missed qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. They lost a play-off game against Australia. In 2023, the FPF hired Jorge Fossati as the new manager.

Team Uniforms

Main article: Peru national football team kit

The Peru national football team wears red and white, Peru's national colors. Since 1936, their main uniform has been white shorts, white socks, and white shirts. These shirts have a special red stripe that goes diagonally across the front. It starts from the left shoulder and goes down to the right hip. This design has changed only a little over the years.

Peru national football team match against Mexico in Lima 1968 (retouched)
Peru in 1968, wearing their traditional kit. The distinctive red "sash" has been emblazoned across Peru's white shirts continuously since 1936.

Peru's uniform is often called one of the most attractive in world football. Christopher Turpin from NPR called the 1970 version "the beautiful game's most beautiful shirt." He said it looked "retro even in 1970." Miles Kohrman, a football reporter, said Peru's kit was "one of soccer's best-kept secrets." Rory Smith of The New York Times called Peru's 2018 jersey "a classic." The 1978 uniform was ranked first in an ESPN list of "Best World Cup jerseys of all time." It was described as "simple yet strikingly effective."

Peru's first uniform in 1927 had a white-and-red striped shirt. For the 1930 World Cup, they used a different design. This was because Paraguay had a similar striped kit. So, Peru wore white shirts with a red collar. In 1935, they added a horizontal red stripe to the shirt. The next year, at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, they started using the famous diagonal red stripe. This design has been used ever since.

Peru's badge is the emblem of the Peruvian Football Federation. The first badge in 1927 had a shield design with the country's name and the FPF's initials. Eight different badges followed. The longest-used design was on the team's jersey from 1953 to 2014. This badge had the Peruvian flag at the bottom. Since 2014, the badge has a classic shield design. It features Peru's flag and the FPF's initials, surrounded by a gold frame.

Eight different companies have made Peru's team uniforms. The first was Adidas from Germany. Since January 2023, Adidas has been making Peru's kit again.

Home Stadium

Main article: Estadio Nacional del Perú
Photograph of the exterior of a modern football stadium
Exterior of the Estadio Nacional in 2013.
Photograph of a modern football stadium's interior; the stands are full of spectators
Interior of the Estadio Nacional in 2011.

The main home for Peruvian football is the Estadio Nacional in Lima. This stadium can hold 50,000 fans. The current stadium is the third one built on the same spot. It was updated under President Alan García. It officially reopened on July 24, 2011, exactly 88 years after the first stadium opened in 1923.

Lima's British community gave the original Estadio Nacional as a gift. This was to celebrate 100 years of Peru's independence from Spain. It was a wooden building that could hold 6,000 people. Construction started on July 28, 1921. The stadium was rebuilt and reopened in 1952. It was made of cement and could hold 53,000 people. The latest updates in 2011 added a new outside, colorful lights, two giant LED screens, and 375 private suites.

A special part of the stadium is the Miguel Dasso Tower on the north side. It has luxury boxes that were updated in 2004. The Estadio Nacional now has a natural grass field. Before, it had artificial turf for the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship. Players said the artificial turf caused injuries.

Peru sometimes plays home games at other stadiums. In the high-altitude city of Cusco, the thin air at the Estadio Garcilaso de la Vega can give Peru an advantage. Other places the team plays include two stadiums in Lima: Alianza's Estadio Alejandro Villanueva and Universitario's Estadio Monumental ''U''.

The national team trains at the Villa Deportiva Nacional (VIDENA) sports complex in Lima. The Peruvian Institute of Sport (IPD) has managed this complex since 1981. In 2017, after Peru qualified for the 2018 World Cup, the FPF announced a new training complex. This new Center of National Teams will be in Chaclacayo. It will have six training fields for both men's and women's teams. In 2023, the FPF also announced plans to modernize the VIDENA complex.

Fans and Support

See also: Football in Peru
Machu Picchu, Peru - Laslovarga (267)
Giant poster in the town below Machu Picchu, featuring Edison Flores and the cheer ¡Arriba Perú!

Football has been Peru's most popular sport since the early 1900s. Peru has one of the biggest fanbases in the Americas. At first, football was mostly for the rich people in Lima. But in the early 1900s, it became a big part of popular culture. Later, the government helped make football a national pastime. Because of this, the national football team became very important to Peru's national identity. During the qualifying games for the 1970 World Cup, national pride grew very strong.

Peruvian football fans are known for their special cheer ¡Arriba Perú! ("Onward Peru!"). They also sing ¡Vamos peruanos! (Let's go Peruvians!). They use traditional Peruvian música criolla to support their team. Música criolla became famous in the 1930s and is now a symbol of Peru's culture. The team's most popular songs are Peru Campeón and Contigo Perú. In 2018, Peruvian fans won the FIFA Fan Award for their "fervent and dedicated group" at the World Cup.

A sad event happened on May 24, 1964, at the Estadio Nacional disaster. It is one of the worst tragedies in football history. During a game between Peru's under-20 team and Argentina, the referee did not allow a Peruvian goal. Fans threw things, and two fans ran onto the field. Police used tear gas, causing a panic. Fans were crushed against locked gates. 315 people died, and more than 500 were hurt.

Team Rivalries

Peru vs. Chile

Main article: Chile–Peru football rivalry
Raul Toro y Lolo Fernandez
Chile's Raúl Toro and Peru's Teodoro Fernández, opponents in the 1937 South American Championship.

The Peru national football team has big rivalries with its neighbors, Chile and Ecuador. Peru has a better record against Ecuador but a worse record against Chile. Peru played both rivals in the 1939 South American Championship in Lima. This was also Peru's first official game against Ecuador. Peru won both matches. Peru also beat both teams in qualifying for the 1978 World Cup.

The rivalry between Chile and Peru is called the Clásico del Pacífico ("Pacific Derby"). A CNN editor ranked it among the top ten football rivalries in the world. Peru first played Chile in 1935 and won 1–0. This rivalry is partly due to the history between the two countries. But it's mainly because both teams want to be known as the best on South America's Pacific coast. They often compete for the title of the fourth-best team in South America (after Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay). Both countries also claim to have invented the bicycle kick. Peruvians call it the chalaca, while in Chile, it's the chilena.

Peru vs. Ecuador

The rivalry between the Ecuador and Peru football teams comes from their historical border conflicts. In 1995, after a short war, CONMEBOL thought about changing the Copa América schedule. This was to avoid a match between the two teams, but they decided not to. According to historian Michael Handelsman, Ecuadorian fans see losses to Colombia or Peru as a reason to feel sad about Ecuador's football. He added that "The rivalries are intense, and the games always carry an element of national pride and honor."

Recent Games

Further information: Peru national football team results (2020–present)

Here are some of Peru's recent match results and upcoming games.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2024 Matches

Upcoming 2025 Matches

Team Managers

Main article: Peru national football team manager
Valdir Pereira Peru Coach in 1970
Didi managed Peru at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

Since 1927, 44 different people have managed the Peru national football team. Most of them (36) were from Peru, and 24 were from other countries. Experts generally agree that the most successful managers were England's Jack Greenwell and Peru's Marcos Calderón. Greenwell led Peru to win the 1938 Bolivarian Games and the 1939 South American Championship. Calderón led Peru to win the 1975 Copa América and coached them at the 1978 FIFA World Cup.

Three other managers also led Peru to win the Kirin Cup in Japan: Juan Carlos Oblitas (1999), Freddy Ternero (2005), and Sergio Markarián (2011). The FPF first hired Uruguayan coaches Pedro Olivieri and Julio Borelli to manage the team. Olivieri was the first, for the 1927 South American Championship. Francisco Bru from Spain was Peru's third manager and first World Cup coach in 1930. He had also been Spain's first manager. The FPF then appointed Telmo Carbajo, Peru's first Peruvian coach, for the 1935 South American Championship.

Coach Ricardo Gareca is highly praised. He led Peru to the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He also helped them finish second in the 2019 and third in 2015. He almost led Peru to their sixth World Cup in 2022. The team's current manager since December 2023 is Jorge Fossati from Uruguay.

Managers who greatly changed Peru's playing style include Hungarian György Orth and Brazilians Didi and Tim. Orth coached Peru from 1957 to 1959. Sports historian Andreas Campomar said Peru's "4–1 thrashing of England in Lima" showed Orth's positive impact on the team's attacking game. Didi coached Peru from 1968 to 1970 and managed them at the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Campomar said Didi's tactics helped Peru develop a "free-flowing football" style.

Team Players

Current Squad

The players listed below were chosen for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification games in November 2024.

The number of games played (caps) and goals scored are correct as of November 19, 2024, after the game against Argentina.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Pedro Gallese (1990-02-23) 23 February 1990 (age 35) 114 0 United States Orlando City
12 1GK Carlos Cáceda (1991-09-27) 27 September 1991 (age 33) 9 0 Peru Melgar
21 1GK Diego Romero (2001-08-17) 17 August 2001 (age 23) 0 0 Peru Universitario
1GK Diego Enríquez (2002-02-24) 24 February 2002 (age 23) 0 0 Peru Sporting Cristal
2 2DF Luis Abram (1996-02-27) 27 February 1996 (age 29) 44 1 United States Atlanta United
4 2DF Renzo Garcés (1996-06-12) 12 June 1996 (age 29) 4 0 Peru Alianza Lima
5 2DF Carlos Zambrano (1989-07-10) 10 July 1989 (age 35) 80 4 Peru Alianza Lima
6 2DF Miguel Trauco (1992-08-25) 25 August 1992 (age 32) 75 0 Brazil Criciúma
15 2DF Miguel Araujo (1994-10-24) 24 October 1994 (age 30) 39 1 United States Portland Timbers
17 2DF Luis Advíncula (1990-03-02) 2 March 1990 (age 35) 124 2 Argentina Boca Juniors
19 2DF Oliver Sonne (2000-11-10) 10 November 2000 (age 24) 10 0 Denmark Silkeborg
22 2DF Alexander Callens (1992-05-04) 4 May 1992 (age 33) 50 2 Greece AEK Athens
2DF Aldo Corzo (1989-05-20) 20 May 1989 (age 36) 53 0 Peru Universitario
2DF Erick Noriega (2001-07-22) 22 July 2001 (age 23) 1 0 Peru Alianza Lima
3 3MF Jorge Murrugarra (1997-03-22) 22 March 1997 (age 28) 1 0 Peru Universitario
8 3MF Piero Quispe (2001-08-14) 14 August 2001 (age 23) 12 1 Mexico UNAM
10 3MF Sergio Peña (1995-09-28) 28 September 1995 (age 29) 47 4 Sweden Malmö
13 3MF Jesús Castillo (2001-06-11) 11 June 2001 (age 24) 13 1 Portugal Gil Vicente
18 3MF Horacio Calcaterra (1989-02-22) 22 February 1989 (age 36) 10 0 Peru Universitario
3MF Jean Pierre Archimbaud (1994-08-16) 16 August 1994 (age 30) 3 0 Peru Melgar
7 4FW Andy Polo (1994-09-29) 29 September 1994 (age 30) 52 1 Peru Universitario
9 4FW Paolo Guerrero (1984-01-01) 1 January 1984 (age 41) 124 39 Peru Alianza Lima
11 4FW Bryan Reyna (1998-08-23) 23 August 1998 (age 26) 16 2 Argentina Belgrano
14 4FW Gianluca Lapadula (1990-02-07) 7 February 1990 (age 35) 40 9 Italy Cagliari
16 4FW José Rivera (1997-05-08) 8 May 1997 (age 28) 6 0 Peru Universitario
20 4FW Edison Flores (1994-05-15) 15 May 1994 (age 31) 80 16 Mexico Atlas
23 4FW Alex Valera (1996-05-16) 16 May 1996 (age 29) 20 3 Peru Universitario
4FW Luis Ramos (1999-12-13) 13 December 1999 (age 25) 2 0 Peru Cusco

Notable Players

Main article: List of Peru international footballers
Sotil Cubillas Challe 1973
Hugo Sotil, Teófilo Cubillas, and Roberto Challe (left to right) at the Estadio Nacional in 1973.

A report from CONMEBOL in 2008 said Peru traditionally plays with an "elegant, technical and fine football style." It praised Peru as "one of the most loyal exponents of South American football talent." In 2017, manager Ricardo Gareca said Peruvian players are "technically sound, strong and adaptable." He added that their ability to adapt comes from Peru's varied geography.

Peruvian players called "true artists of the ball" in the CONMEBOL report include forwards Teófilo Cubillas, Pedro Pablo León, and Hugo Sotil. Also mentioned are defender Héctor Chumpitaz and midfielders Roberto Challe, César Cueto, José del Solar, and Roberto Palacios. Cubillas, an attacking midfielder and forward known as El Nene ("The Kid"), is often seen as Peru's greatest player ever. Chumpitaz is often called the team's best defender. He was good at reading the game and had great ball skills.

Before Cubillas, Teodoro "Lolo" Fernández was considered Peru's greatest player. He was a forward nicknamed El Cañonero ("The Cannoneer") because of his powerful shots. Fernández was a key part of the Rodillo Negro team in the 1930s, along with Alejandro Villanueva and Juan Valdivieso. Fernández scored most of the team's goals. His partner, Villanueva, amazed fans with his acrobatic skills. Goalkeeper Valdivieso was known for stopping penalty kicks.

In 1972, teams from Europe and South America played a special game in Switzerland. It was to help homeless children. Cubillas, Chumpitaz, Sotil, and Julio Baylón played for the South American team, which won 2–0. Cubillas scored the first goal. The teams played another game the next year to fight global poverty. Cubillas, Chumpitaz, and Sotil played again. Chumpitaz was South America's captain. Each Peruvian player scored in a 4–4 draw. South America won 7–6 on penalties.

Team Records

Main article: Peru national football team records and statistics

The Peru national football team has played 645 matches since 1927. This includes friendly games. Peru's biggest win was 9–1 against Ecuador on August 11, 1938. This happened at the Bolivarian Games in Colombia. The team's biggest loss was 7–0 to Brazil at the 1997 Copa América in Bolivia.

Players in bold are still playing for Peru.

Most Games Played

Yoshimar Yotún (2015)
Yoshimar Yotún is Peru's joint-most capped player with 128 appearances.
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Roberto Palacios 128 19 1992–2012
Yoshimar Yotún 128 8 2011–present
3 Luis Advíncula 123 2 2010–present
Paolo Guerrero 123 40 2004–present
5 Pedro Gallese 113 0 2014–present
6 Héctor Chumpitaz 105 3 1965–1981
7 Jefferson Farfán 102 27 2003–2021
8 Jorge Soto 101 9 1992–2005
9 André Carrillo 100 11 2011–present
Christian Cueva 100 16 2011–present

The two Peruvian players who have played the most international games are Roberto Palacios and Yoshimar Yotún. Both have played 128 games for the team. Paolo Guerrero has the third-most games with 122. The Peruvian goalkeeper with the most appearances is Pedro Gallese with 113.

Top Goalscorers

Campeonato Carioca - Flamengo - Guerrero (cropped)
Paolo Guerrero is Peru's top scorer with 39 goals.
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Paolo Guerrero (list) 39 123 0.32 2004–present
2 Jefferson Farfán 27 102 0.26 2003–2021
3 Teófilo Cubillas 26 81 0.32 1968–1982
4 Teodoro Fernández 24 32 0.75 1935–1947
5 Claudio Pizarro 20 85 0.24 1999–2016
Nolberto Solano 20 95 0.21 1994–2008
7 Roberto Palacios 19 128 0.15 1992–2012
8 Hugo Sotil 18 62 0.29 1970–1978
9 Oswaldo Ramírez 17 57 0.3 1969–1982
10 Franco Navarro 16 56 0.29 1980–1989
Edison Flores 16 79 0.21 2013–present
Christian Cueva 16 100 0.16 2011–present

The team's all-time top goalscorer is Paolo Guerrero, with 39 goals. He is followed by Jefferson Farfán, with 27 goals, and Teófilo Cubillas, who scored 26 goals. Of the top ten scorers, Teodoro Fernández has the best goal-per-game average. Claudio Pizarro scored Peru's fastest goal ever, less than a minute into a game against Mexico in 2003.

Peru's current captain is forward Paolo Guerrero. Midfielder Leopoldo Basurto was the team's first captain. Defender Héctor Chumpitaz was captain for the longest time, from 1965 to 1981. Forward Claudio Pizarro was captain for the second-longest time, from 2003 to 2016. In 2022, Netflix released "Contigo capitán," a series about Paolo Guerrero's doping ban. This ban almost stopped him from playing in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Team Achievements

FIFA World Cup

Main article: Peru at the FIFA World Cup
Perurumania1930
Peru's match against Romania at the 1930 World Cup.

Peru has played in the World Cup finals five times. They were invited to the first World Cup in 1930. Since 1958, they have tried to qualify for every tournament. They made it to the finals four more times: in 1970, 1978, 1982, and 2018. In World Cup qualifying games, Peru has 43 wins, 37 draws, and 69 losses. In the finals, they have won five games, drawn three, and lost ten. They scored 21 goals and had 33 goals scored against them. Peru won the first FIFA Fair Play Trophy in 1970. They were the only team not to get any yellow or red cards. Peru has a unique record: they always play against the team that eventually wins the tournament.

Luis de Souza Ferreira scored Peru's first World Cup goal on July 14, 1930, against Romania. José Velásquez scored Peru's fastest World Cup goal. It was two minutes into the game against Iran in 1978. Jefferson Farfán is Peru's top scorer in World Cup qualification, with 16 goals. Teófilo Cubillas is the team's top scorer in the World Cup finals, with 10 goals in 13 games. In the 1930 World Cup, a Peruvian player was the first to be sent off. Peru's Ramón Quiroga is the only goalkeeper to commit a foul in the opponent's half of the field in a World Cup game.

Peru's FIFA World Cup record
FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup qualification Top scorer(s) (goals) Manager(s)
Year Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Round 1 10th 2 0 0 2 1 4 Qualified as invitees Souza (1) Spain Bru
Italy 1934 Withdrew Withdrew N/A
France 1938 Did not enter Did not enter
Brazil 1950 Withdrew Withdrew
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 1 2 Terry (1) Hungary Orth
Chile 1962 2 0 1 1 1 2 Delgado (1) Peru Calderón
England 1966 4 2 0 2 8 6 León (3) Peru Calderón
Mexico 1970 Quarter-finals 7th 4 2 0 2 9 9 4 2 1 1 7 4 Cubillas (5) Brazil Didi
West Germany 1974 Did not qualify 3 1 0 2 3 4 Sotil (2) Uruguay Scarone
Argentina 1978 Quarter-finals 8th 6 2 1 3 7 12 6 3 2 1 13 3 Cubillas (5) Peru Calderón
Spain 1982 Round 1 20th 3 0 2 1 2 6 4 2 2 0 5 2 La Rosa (3) Brazil Tim
Mexico 1986 Did not qualify 8 3 2 3 10 9 Navarro (3) Peru Challe
Italy 1990 4 0 0 4 2 8 Del Solar, González (1) Brazil Pepe
United States 1994 6 0 1 5 4 12 Soto, Muchotrigo,
Palacios, Del Solar (1)		 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Popović
France 1998 16 7 4 5 19 20 Palacios (6) Peru Oblitas
South Korea Japan 2002 18 4 4 10 14 25 Pajuelo, Palacios,
Pizarro, Solano (2)		 Colombia Maturana,
Peru Uribe
Germany 2006 18 4 6 8 20 28 Farfán (7) Brazil Autuori,
Peru Ternero
South Africa 2010 18 3 4 11 11 34 Fano (3) Peru Del Solar
Brazil 2014 16 4 3 9 17 26 Farfán (5) Uruguay Markarián
Russia 2018 Group stage 20th 3 1 0 2 2 2 20 8 6 6 29 26 Guerrero (6) Argentina Gareca
Qatar 2022 Did not qualify 19 7 4 8 19 22 Cueva (5) Argentina Gareca
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined To be determined
Total Quarter-finals 5/22 18 5 3 10 21 33 168 50 41 77 183 233 N/A N/A

Copa América

Main article: Peru at the Copa América
Peru Chile Copa America 1975 Oblitas Chalaca Version2
Peru's match against Chile at the 1975 Copa América.

Peru's national team has played in 34 Copa América tournaments since 1927. They have won the competition twice, in 1939 and 1975. Peru has hosted the tournament six times. Their overall record in the competition is 58 wins, 40 draws, and 66 losses. Peru also won the Fair Play award in 2015.

Demetrio Neyra scored Peru's first goal in the competition on November 13, 1927, against Bolivia. Christian Cueva scored Peru's fastest Copa América goal. It was two minutes into the game against Brazil in 2015. Four tournaments have had a Peruvian top scorer: Teodoro Fernández in 1939, and Paolo Guerrero in 2011, 2015, and 2019. Fernández was named the best player of the 1939 tournament. Teófilo Cubillas, voted best player in 1975, is the only other Peruvian to win this award.

Peru won its first continental title in 1939. They won the South American Championship by beating Ecuador, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This was the first time a team other than Uruguay, Brazil, or Argentina had won. Peru became South American champions again in 1975. This was the first Copa América where all ten CONMEBOL members played. Peru won their group, beating Chile and Bolivia. In the semi-finals, they tied with Brazil over two games. Peru was declared the winner by drawing lots. In the final against Colombia, both teams won their home games. This forced a deciding game in Caracas, which Peru won 1–0.

South American Championship (1916–1967)
Year Host Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad
1916 to 1926 Did not enter
1927  Peru Third place 3 1 0 2 4 11 Squad
1929  Argentina Fourth place 3 0 0 3 1 12 Squad
1935  Peru Third place 3 1 0 2 2 5 Squad
1937  Argentina Sixth place 5 1 1 3 7 10 Squad
1939  Peru Champions 4 4 0 0 13 4 Squad
1941  Chile Fourth place 4 1 0 3 5 5 Squad
1942  Uruguay Fifth place 6 1 2 3 5 10 Squad
1945 to 1946 Withdrew
1947  Ecuador Fifth place 7 2 2 3 12 9 Squad
1949  Brazil Third place 7 5 0 2 20 13 Squad
1953  Peru Fifth place 6 3 1 2 4 6 Squad
1955  Chile Third place 5 2 2 1 13 11 Squad
1956  Uruguay Sixth place 5 0 1 4 6 11 Squad
1957  Peru Fourth place 6 4 0 2 12 9 Squad
1959 (first)  Argentina Fourth place 6 1 3 2 10 11 Squad
1959 (second)  Ecuador Did not enter
1963  Bolivia Fifth place 6 2 1 3 8 11 Squad
1967  Uruguay Withdrew
Copa América (1975–present)
Year Host Round Pld W D L GF GA Squad
1975 No fixed host Champions 9 6 1 2 14 7 Squad
1979 No fixed host Third place 2 0 1 1 1 2 Squad
1983 No fixed host Third place 6 2 3 1 7 6 Squad
1987  Argentina Group stage 2 0 2 0 2 2 Squad
1989  Brazil Group stage 4 0 3 1 4 7 Squad
1991  Chile Group stage 4 1 0 3 9 9 Squad
1993  Ecuador Quarter-finals 4 1 2 1 4 5 Squad
1995  Uruguay Group stage 3 0 1 2 2 5 Squad
1997  Bolivia Fourth place 6 3 0 3 5 11 Squad
1999  Paraguay Quarter-finals 4 2 1 1 7 6 Squad
2001  Colombia Quarter-finals 4 1 1 2 4 8 Squad
2004  Peru Quarter-finals 4 1 2 1 7 6 Squad
2007  Venezuela Quarter-finals 4 1 1 2 5 8 Squad
2011  Argentina Third place 6 3 1 2 8 5 Squad
2015  Chile Third place 6 3 1 2 8 5 Squad
2016  United States Quarter-finals 4 2 2 0 4 2 Squad
2019  Brazil Runners-up 6 2 2 2 7 9 Squad
2021  Brazil Fourth place 7 2 2 3 10 14 Squad
2024  United States Group stage 3 0 1 2 0 3 Squad
2028 To be determined
Total 2 titles 34/48 164 58 40 66 230 258 —

CONCACAF Gold Cup

Main article: Peru at the CONCACAF Gold Cup

Peru played in the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time in 2000. They were invited to play, along with Colombia and South Korea. Peru's record in the tournament is 1 win, 1 draw, and 2 losses.

Ysrael Zúñiga scored Peru's first goal in the competition on February 14, 2000, against Haiti. Roberto Palacios was the team's top scorer with two goals. He was also named to the "team of the tournament," which included the best eleven players.

Peru moved past the first stage of the tournament. They didn't win any games but were the second-best team in their group. Next, Peru beat Honduras 5–3 in a quarter-final game. The game ended a minute early because angry Honduran fans ran onto the field. Colombia then beat Peru 2–1 in the semi-finals.

Olympic Games

See also: Peru at the Olympics
Peru v Austria 1936 Valdivieso
Peru playing against Austria in the 1936 Olympic football tournament.

Peru's main team has played in the Olympic football tournament once. This was at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. The 1936 team, which had players from different backgrounds, was called "the jewel of the country's first Olympic delegation." They won two games, scoring 11 goals and letting in 5.

Teodoro Fernández scored Peru's first goal in the tournament against Finland on August 6. He was the team's top scorer with six goals in two games. This included Peru's only hat-trick at the Olympics.

The 1935 South American Championship in Lima was the qualifying event for the 1936 Olympic tournament. Uruguay won and Argentina came second. But neither team went to the Olympics because of money problems. Peru, who finished third, represented South America. The Peruvian team started the competition with a 7–3 win over Finland. Then they played against Austria, known as the Wunderteam. The game was tied 2–2, but Peru scored twice in extra time to win 4–2. Peru was supposed to play Poland next. However, due to events outside the game, Peru's Olympic team left before the match.

Team Honors

Major Competitions

Continental Titles

Regional Titles

  • Bolivarian Games
    • Gold medal (5): 1938, 1947-48, 1961, 1973, 1981
    • Bronze medal (2): 1951, 1977

Friendly Competitions

  • Copa del Pacífico (vs  Chile)
    • Champions (4): 1953, 1954, 1971 (shared), 1982
  • Kirin Cup
    • Champions (3): 1999 (shared), 2005 (shared), 2011 (shared)

Summary of Medals

Senior competition 1 2 3 Total
Copa América 2 1 8 11
Total 2 1 8 11

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol del Perú para niños

  • Peru national football team indiscipline scandals
  • Peru women's national football team
  • Peru Olympic football team
  • Peru national under-20 football team
  • Peru national under-17 football team
  • Peru national beach soccer team
  • Peru national futsal team
  • Peruvian Primera División
  • Sport in Peru
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