{{Short description|Men's national association football team representing Peru}}

{{About|the men's team|the women's team|Peru women's national football team}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}

{{Infobox national football team

| Name = Peru

| Badge = Fpf-logo.svg

| Badge_size = 155px

| Nickname = ''La Bicolor''<br />(The Bicolour)<br />''La Blanquirroja''<br />(The White and Red)<br />''La Rojiblanca''<br />(The Red and White)<br />''Los Incas''<br />(The [[Inca Empire|Incas]])

| Association = [[Peruvian Football Federation]] (FPF)

| Confederation = [[CONMEBOL]]<br />(South America)

| website = [https://fpf.org.pe/ fpf.pe]

| Coach = [[Jorge Fossati]]<ref>{{Cite tweet|user=VarskySports|title=Jorge Fossati 🇺🇾 es el nuevo DT de la Selección de Perú 🇵🇪.|url=https://twitter.com/VarskySports/status/1735036997939478883|number=1735036997939478883|date=December 13, 2023|access-date=December 14, 2023|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214073248/https://twitter.com/VarskySports/status/1735036997939478883|archive-date=December 14, 2023}}</ref>

| Captain = [[Paolo Guerrero]]

| Most caps = [[Roberto Palacios]] (128)<br />[[Yoshimar Yotún]] (128)

| Top scorer = [[Paolo Guerrero]] ([[List of international goals scored by Paolo Guerrero|39]])

| FIFA Trigramme = PER

| Home Stadium = [[Estadio Nacional del Perú|Estadio Nacional]]

| FIFA Rank = {{FIFA World Rankings|PER}}

| FIFA max = 10

| FIFA max date = October 2017

| FIFA min = 91

| FIFA min date = September 2009

| Elo Rank = {{World Football Elo Ratings|Peru}}

| Elo max = 10

| Elo max date = 23 March – 9 June 2018

| Elo min = 72

| Elo min date = 7 June 2009

| pattern_la1 = _per24h

| pattern_b1 = _per24h

| pattern_ra1 = _per24h

| pattern_sh1 = _per24h

| leftarm1 = FFFFFF

| body1 = FFFFFF

| rightarm1 = FFFFFF

| shorts1 = FFFFFF

| socks1 = FFFFFF

| pattern_la2 = _per24a

| pattern_b2 = _per24a

| pattern_ra2 = _per24a

| pattern_sh2 = _per24a

| leftarm2 = 000000

| body2 = 000000

| rightarm2 = 000000

| shorts2 = 000000

| socks2 = 000000

| First game = {{fb|PER|1825}} 0–4 {{fb-rt|URU}}<br />([[Lima]], [[Peru]]; 1 November 1927)

| Largest win = {{fb|PER|1825}} 9–1 {{fb-rt|ECU|1900}}<br />([[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]]; 11 August 1938)

| Largest loss = {{fb|PER}} 0–7 {{fb-rt|BRA}}<br />{{nowrap|([[Santa Cruz de la Sierra]], [[Bolivia]]; 26 June 1997)}}

| World cup apps = 5

| World cup first = 1930

| World cup best = Quarter-finals ([[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]], [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]])

| Regional name = [[Copa América]]

| Regional cup apps = 33

| Regional cup first = [[1927 South American Championship|1927]]

| Regional cup best = '''Champions''' ([[1939 South American Championship|1939]], [[1975 Copa América|1975]])

| 2ndRegional name = [[Panamerican Championship]]

| 2ndRegional cup apps = 2

| 2ndRegional cup first = [[1952 Panamerican Championship|1952]]

| 2ndRegional cup best = Fourth place ([[1952 Panamerican Championship|1952]], [[1956 Panamerican Championship|1956]])

| 3rdRegional name = [[CONCACAF Gold Cup]]

| 3rdRegional cup apps = 1

| 3rdRegional cup first = [[2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2000]]

| 3rdRegional cup best = Semi-finals ([[2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2000]])

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCompetition | [[Football at the Bolivarian Games|Bolivarian Games]]}}

{{MedalGold | '''[[Football at the 1938 Bolivarian Games|1938 Bogotá]]''' | Team}}

{{MedalCompetition | [[Copa Centenario de Armenia]]}}

{{MedalBronze | '''1989 Armenia''' | NA}}

{{MedalCompetition | [[Kirin Cup]]}}

{{MedalGold | '''1999 Japan''' | NA}}

{{MedalGold | '''2005 Japan''' | NA}}

{{MedalGold | '''2011 Japan''' | NA}}

{{MedalCompetition | [[Marlboro Cup (soccer)|Marlboro Cup]]}}

{{MedalSilver | '''1989 New York''' | NA}}

{{MedalCompetition | [[U.S. Cup|United States Cup]]}}

{{MedalBronze | '''[[1997 U.S. Cup]]''' | NA}}

{{MedalCompetition | [[Kirin Cup]]}}

{{MedalGold | '''[[1999 Kirin Cup]]''' | NA}}

{{MedalGold | '''[[2005 Kirin Cup]]''' | NA}}

{{MedalGold | '''[[2011 Kirin Cup]]''' | NA}}

|4thRegional cup apps=11|4thRegional name=[[Football at the Bolivarian Games|Bolivarian Games]]|4thRegional cup first=[[Football at the 1938 Bolivarian Games|1938]]|4thRegional cup best='''Champions''' ([[1951 Bolivarian Games|1938, 1947, 1961, 1973, 1977, 1981, 2001]])}}

The '''Peru national football team''' represents [[Peru]] in men's international [[Association football|football]]. The national team has been organised, since 1927, by the [[Peruvian Football Federation]] (FPF).{{efn-ua|The acronym FPF comes from the organisation's Spanish name, ''Federación Peruana de Fútbol''.}} The FPF constitutes one of the ten members of [[FIFA]]'s South American Football Confederation ([[CONMEBOL]]). Peru has won the [[Copa América]] [[Peru at the Copa América|twice]], and has qualified for the [[FIFA World Cup]] [[Peru at the FIFA World Cup|five times]] (last appearing in [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018]]); the team also participated in the [[Football at the 1936 Summer Olympics|1936 Olympic football competition]] and has reached the [[Peru at the CONCACAF Gold Cup|semi-finals]] of the [[CONCACAF Gold Cup]]. The team plays most of its home matches at the [[Estadio Nacional del Perú|Estadio Nacional]] in [[Lima]], the country's capital.

The team wears distinctive white shirts adorned with a diagonal red stripe, which combine [[Flag of Peru|Peru's national colours]]. This basic design has been used continuously since 1936, and gives rise to the team's common Spanish nickname, ''la Blanquirroja'' ("the white-and-red").<ref name="Arkivperu.com, ''La Blanquiroja''"/> Peruvian football fans are known for their distinctive cheer ''¡Arriba Perú!'' ("Onward Peru!") and large celebrations.{{sfn|Foley Gambetta|1983|p=12}} Peru has a longstanding rivalry [[Chile–Peru football rivalry|with Chile]].<ref name="Chile Peru rivalry">{{cite news | title=A derby and a debut in South America | publisher=FIFA | url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2011/m=10/news=derby-and-debut-south-america-1524489.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626231323/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2011/m=10/news=derby-and-debut-south-america-1524489.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=26 June 2015 | date= 10 October 2011 | access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref>

The Peru national team enjoyed its most successful periods thanks to footballing generations from the 1930s and the 1970s.{{sfn|Witzig|2006|p=349}} The 1930s generation led Peru at the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930 and won the [[1938 Bolivarian Games]] and the [[1939 South American Championship|1939 Copa América]], with goalkeeper [[Juan Valdivieso]] and forwards [[Teodoro Fernández]] and [[Alejandro Villanueva]] playing important roles. The 1970s generation qualified Peru for three World Cups and won the [[1975 Copa América|Copa América in 1975]]; the team then notably included defender [[Héctor Chumpitaz]] and the forward partnership of [[Hugo Sotil]] and [[Teófilo Cubillas]].

The national team's all-time top goalscorer is [[Paolo Guerrero]], with 39 goals, and its two most-[[Cap (sport)|capped]] players are [[Roberto Palacios]] and [[Yoshimar Yotún]], both with 128 appearances.<ref name="Peru player record">{{cite web|author=José Luis Pierrend |title=Peru&nbsp;– Record International Players |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/peru-recintlp.html |date=31 August 2017 |access-date=24 June 2018 |url-status=live |website=[[RSSSF]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619112949/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/peru-recintlp.html |archive-date=19 June 2018 }}</ref> Since December 2023, Peru is managed by the Uruguayan [[Jorge Fossati]].

== History ==

{{main|History of the Peru national football team}}

During the 19th century, [[British Peruvian|British immigrants]] and Peruvians returning from England introduced football to Peru.<ref name=sisbib.unmsm.edu.pe>{{cite web |author=Gerardo Tomas Álvarez Escalona |url=http://sisbib.unmsm.edu.pe/BibVirtual/Tesis/Human/Alvarez_E_T/Cap2.htm |language=es |title=La difusión del fútbol en Lima |access-date=28 June 2013 |publisher=[[National University of San Marcos]]}}</ref> In 1859, members of the British community in the country's capital founded the [[Lima Cricket and Football Club|Lima Cricket Club]], Peru's first organisation dedicated to the practice of cricket, rugby, and football.{{efn-ua|The Lima Cricket and Football Club might be the [[Oldest football clubs|oldest club]] in [[the Americas]] that today plays association football.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://peru.com/futbol/local/sabias-que-peru-tiene-club-futbol-mas-antiguo-america-fotos-noticia-141992-541382|language=es|title=¿Sabías que Perú tiene el club de fútbol más antiguo de América?|access-date=28 June 2013|work=Perú.com|publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio|archive-date=17 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617043143/https://peru.com/futbol/local/sabias-que-peru-tiene-club-futbol-mas-antiguo-america-fotos-noticia-141992-541382|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}{{sfn|Higgins|2005|p=130}}<ref>{{cite web |author=Eli Schmerler and Carlos Manuel Nieto Tarazona |title=Peru&nbsp;– Foundation Dates of Clubs |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/perufound.html |date=14 March 2013 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=16 March 2015}}</ref> These new sports became popular among the local upper-class over the following decades, but early developments stopped due to the [[War of the Pacific]] that Peru fought against [[Chile]] from 1879 to 1883. After the war, Peru's coastal society embraced football as a modern innovation.<ref>{{cite web |author=Juan Luis Orrego Penagos |url=http://blog.pucp.edu.pe/blog/juanluisorrego/2008/10/18/la-historia-del-futbol-en-el-peru/|language=es |title=La historia del fútbol en el Perú |date=18 October 2008 |access-date=4 July 2015 |publisher=[[Pontifical Catholic University of Peru]] (PUCP)}}</ref> In Lima's ''[[barrio]]s'', football became a popular daily activity, encouraged by bosses who wanted it to inspire solidarity and productivity among their workers.{{sfn|Jacobsen|2008|p=378}} In the adjacent port of [[Callao]] and other commercial areas, British civilian workers and sailors played the sport among themselves and with locals.{{sfn|Henshaw|1979|p=571}}{{efn-ua|During these games in Callao, the Peruvians possibly invented the [[bicycle kick]], which is known in Peru as the ''chalaca'' (meaning "from Callao").{{sfn|DK Publishing|2011|p=100}}}} Sports rivalries between locals and foreigners arose in Callao, and between elites and workers in Lima—as foreigners departed, this became a rivalry between Callao and Lima.<ref name="sisbib.unmsm.edu.pe" /><ref>See:

* {{harvnb|Goldblatt|2008|pp=135–136}},

* {{harvnb|Stein|2011|pp=3–4}}.</ref> These factors, coupled with the sport's rapid growth among the urban poor of Lima's [[La Victoria District, Lima|La Victoria]] district (where, in 1901, the [[Alianza Lima]] club formed), led to Peru developing the [[Andes|Andean region]]'s strongest footballing culture,{{sfn|Goldblatt|2008|p=135}} and, according to historian Andreas Campomar, "some of the most elegant and accomplished football on the continent".{{sfn|Campomar|2014|p=153}}

[[File:Peru national football team parading in 1927 South American Championship.png|thumb|left|alt=Photo of ten men, running and carrying a large flag, inside a stadium|Peru's debut at the [[1927 South American Championship]] in Lima.]]

The [[Peruvian Primera División|Peruvian Football League]], founded in 1912, held annual competitions until it disbanded in 1921 amid disputes amongst its clubs.{{sfn|Murray|1994|p=127}} The Peruvian Football Federation (FPF), formed in 1922, reorganised the annual tournament in 1926.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fpf.org.pe/|title=Historia|access-date=28 June 2013|publisher=FPF |language=es}}</ref> The FPF joined the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) in 1925 and, after restructuring its finances, formed the Peru national football team in 1927.<ref name="Pulgar Vidal, ''La Seleccion...''">{{cite web | author=Jaime Pulgar-Vidal Otálora | title=La Selección Peruana de 1924| publisher=Jaime Pulgar-Vidal| url=http://jaimepulgarvidal.blogspot.com/2007/10/la-seleccin-peruana-de-1924.html | date=23 October 2007 |access-date=28 June 2013|language=es}}</ref> The team debuted in the [[1927 South American Championship]], hosted by the FPF at Lima's Estadio Nacional.{{sfn|Henshaw|1979|p=571}} Peru lost 0–4 against [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] in its first match, and won 3–2 over [[Bolivia national football team|Bolivia]] in its second.<ref name="RSSSF, ''International Results''"/> Peru did not advance beyond the first stage of the inaugural [[1930 FIFA World Cup|FIFA World Cup]] in 1930.{{sfn|Basadre|1964|pp=4672–4673}}

The 1930s were the team's first [[Golden generation|golden era]],{{sfn|Witzig|2006|p=349}} when they improved their game through play with more experienced teams.{{sfn|Campomar|2014|p=153}} The ''Combinado del Pacífico'' (a squad composed of Chilean and Peruvian footballers) toured Europe from 1933 to 1934.{{efn-ua|The European press also named them the "Peru-Chile XI", the "South American Team", and the "All-Pacific". Most players were from Peru's [[Universitario de Deportes]], with reinforcements from Alianza Lima, [[Atlético Chalaco]], and Chile's [[Colo-Colo]].{{sfn|Campomar|2014|p=153}}}}{{sfn|Campomar|2014|p=153}} Starting with [[Ciclista Lima Association|Ciclista Lima]] in 1926, Peru's football clubs toured [[Latin America]] with much success.{{sfn|Basadre|1964|pp=4671–4673}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dechalaca.com/informes/curiosidades/rayas-historicas |title=Rayas históricas |first=Iván |last=Carpio |date=26 January 2012 |access-date=3 March 2015 |publisher=DeChalaca |language=es}}</ref> During one of these tours—Alianza Lima's undefeated journey through Chile in 1935—emerged the ''[[Rodillo Negro]]'' ("Black Roller"), a skillful group led by forwards Alejandro Villanueva, Teodoro Fernández and goalkeeper Juan Valdivieso.<ref>See:

* {{harvnb|Basadre|1964|pp=4671–4673}},

* {{harvnb|Miró|1958|p=66}}.</ref> Sports historian Richard Witzig described these three as "a soccer triumvirate unsurpassed in the world at that time", citing their combined innovation and effectiveness at both ends of the field.{{sfn|Witzig|2006|p=349}} Peru and the ''Rodillo Negro'' impressed at the 1936 Summer Olympics, won the [[Football at the 1938 Bolivarian Games|inaugural Bolivarian Games]] in 1938, and finished the decade as South American champions.{{sfn|Thorndike|1978|p=158}}<ref>{{cite web |first=Waldemar |last=Iglesias |title=Cuando Perú Humilló a Hitler |work=Clarín|url=http://www.clarin.com/mision-olimpica/biPlaneta-RedondobibrCuando-Peru-humillo-Hitler_0_746925486.html |date=31 July 2012 |access-date=28 June 2013 |language=es| publisher=Grupo Clarín}}</ref>

Historian David Goldblatt assessed the decline of its previous success: "despite all the apparent preconditions for footballing growth and success, Peruvian football disappeared".{{sfn|Goldblatt|2008|p=642}} He attributes this sudden decline to Peruvian authorities' repression of "social, sporting and political organisations among the urban and rural poor" during the 1940s and 1950s.{{sfn|Goldblatt|2008|p=642}} Nevertheless, Peru performed creditably at the South American Championships, placing third in [[1949 South American Championship|Brazil 1949]] and [[1955 South American Championship|Chile 1955]], and missed qualification for the [[1958 FIFA World Cup|Sweden 1958 World Cup]] finals, over [[Two-legged tie|two legs]] to eventual champions Brazil.{{sfn|Henshaw|1979|p=572}}

[[File:Peru Argentina 1970 World Cup Qualifiers.png|thumb|left|alt=Photo of four men in the foreground, inside a full stadium|[[Oswaldo Ramírez]] scored the goals against [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] that secured Peru's 1970 World Cup qualification.]]

Successes during the late 1960s, including qualification for the [[1970 FIFA World Cup|Mexico 1970 World Cup]] finals, ushered in a second golden period for Peruvian football.{{sfn|Witzig|2006|p=349}}<ref name="FIFA.com, Silence">{{cite web |title=The Silence of the Bombonera |publisher=FIFA|url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/matches/qualifiers/match=1732/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107182912/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/matches/qualifiers/match=1732/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 January 2014 |access-date=28 June 2013}}</ref> The formidable forward partnership between Teófilo Cubillas and Hugo Sotil was a key factor in Peru's triumphs during the 1970s.{{sfn|Radnedge|2001|p=195}} Peru reached the quarter-finals in 1970, losing to the tournament winners Brazil, and earned the first [[FIFA World Cup Fair Play Trophy|FIFA Fair Play Trophy]];<ref name="Fair Play">{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mencompwc/51/97/55/171012-statisticalkit-fifaworldcup-milestonesfactsfigures-statusafterfwc2010.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521092116/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mencompwc/51/97/55/171012-statisticalkit-fifaworldcup-milestonesfactsfigures-statusafterfwc2010.pdf |archive-date=21 May 2013 |publisher=FIFA |title=FIFA World Cup: Milestones, facts & figures. Statistical Kit 7 |url-status=dead |date=18 March 2015}}</ref>{{sfn|Fiore|2012|p="El Nene" de Perú}} historian Richard Henshaw describes Peru as "the surprise of the 1970 competition, showing flair and a high level of skill".{{sfn|Henshaw|1979|p=572}} Five years later, Peru became South American champions for the second time when it won the 1975 Copa América (the then-rechristened South American Championship) despite failing to qualify for [[1974 FIFA World Cup|West Germany 1974]] a year earlier. The team next qualified for two consecutive World Cup finals, reaching the second round in [[1978 FIFA World Cup|Argentina 1978]] and the first group stage in [[1982 FIFA World Cup|Spain 1982]]. Peru's early elimination in 1982 marked the end of the side's globally-admired "flowing football".{{sfn|DK Publishing|2010|p=75}} Peru, nonetheless, barely missed the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|Mexico 1986 World Cup]] finals after placing second in a qualification group to eventual champions [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]].<ref name="Tim Vickery">{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Vickery |title=Chile must see off Peru attack to win first Copa America trophy on home soil |work=ESPN FC |publisher=ESPN Inc. |url=http://www.espnfc.com/copa-america/83/blog/post/2507070/chile-must-see-off-peru-attack-to-win-first-copa-america | date=29 June 2015 |access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref> In their golden period from 1970 to 1982, Peru was among the best teams in the world.

By the late 1980s, renewed expectations for Peru were centred on a young generation of Alianza Lima players known colloquially as ''Los Potrillos'' ("The Colts"). Sociologists Aldo Panfichi and Victor Vich write that ''Los Potrillos'' "became the hope of the entire country"—fans expected them to qualify for the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|Italy 1990 World Cup]] finals.{{sfn|Panfichi|Vich|2005|pp=161, 173}} These hopes were dashed when the national team entered a hiatus after its manager and several of its players [[1987 Alianza Lima air disaster|died in a plane crash]] carrying most of Alianza's team and staff in 1987.{{sfn|Panfichi|Vich|2005|pp=161–162, 173}} Peru subsequently only came close to reaching the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|France 1998 World Cup]] finals, missing qualification on [[goal difference]],<ref name="Tim Vickery"/> but would go on to win the 1999 [[Kirin Cup]] tournament in Japan (sharing the title with [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]])<ref name="Copa Kirin">{{cite news |title=Copa Kirin: Perú ya fue campeón en 1999 y el 2005|work=El Comercio|publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio|url=http://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/seleccion/copa-kirin-peru-ya-fue-campeon-1999-2005-noticia-766468|language=es |date=31 May 2011 |access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref> and [[Peru at the CONCACAF Gold Cup|reached the semi-finals]] at the [[1997 Copa América]] and the [[2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup]] (contested as an invitee).<ref>{{cite web |first=Caro|last=Acosta|title=El Sabor Que Le Dio Conmebol a la Copa Oro| work=Goal Mexico| publisher=Goal.com |url= http://www.goal.com/es-mx/news/4797/copa-oro/2015/07/02/13230332/el-sabor-que-le-dio-conmebol-a-la-copa-oro|date=2 July 2015|access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref>

Qualification for the FIFA World Cup finals continued being an elusive objective for Peru during the early 21st century.<ref name="Tim Vickery"/> According to historian [[Charles F. Walker]], player [[Peru national football team indiscipline scandals|indiscipline problems]] marred Peru's national team and football league.<ref name="Walker">{{cite journal| first= Charles F. | last= Walker |title= Review of ''Ese Gol Existe'', ed. Aldo Panfichi |journal= Hispanic American Historical Review |volume= 90|issue=3 |pages= 569–571 |doi=10.1215/00182168-2010-033 |publisher= Duke University Press |date= 2010}}</ref> Troubles in the FPF, particularly with its then-president Manuel Burga, deepened the crisis in Peruvian football—FIFA temporarily suspended the country from international competition, in late 2008, because the Peruvian government investigated alleged corruption within the FPF.<ref>{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Vickery |title=Federation infighting deepens existing football trouble in Peru |work=ESPN FC |publisher=ESPN Inc. |url=http://www.espnfc.us/team/peru/211/blog/post/2125034/federation-in-fighting-deepens-existing-football-trouble-in-peru | date=2 November 2014 |access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref>{{efn-ua|In 2008, FIFA suspended the Peru national team and football league—citing political interference—after Peru's government impeded the re-election of FPF president Burga, charging him with not complying FPF statutes according to Peruvian law. In December 2008, FIFA lifted sanctions after the [[Peruvian Institute of Sport]] (IPD) agreed to negotiate with the FPF.<ref>{{cite web|title=La FIFA levantó la suspensión al fútbol peruano|work=Perú 21|publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio|url=http://peru21.pe/noticia/226584/fifa-habria-decidido-levantarle-suspension-al-futbol-peruano|date=20 December 2008|access-date=4 July 2015|language=es|archive-date=6 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706154521/http://peru21.pe/noticia/226584/fifa-habria-decidido-levantarle-suspension-al-futbol-peruano|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} Burga's twelve-year tenure as FPF president, deemed by journalists and the public as disastrous for the national team, despite a third place at the [[2011 Copa América]], ended in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Manuel Burga, acusado de fraude|work=Marca|publisher=Unidad Editorial, S.A. | url=https://www.marca.com/2013/09/24/futbol/futbol_internacional/resto_de_america/1380018062.html |language=es |date=24 September 2013|access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Auge y caída del 'imperio' de Manuel Burga en el fútbol peruano|work=RPP Noticias|publisher=Grupo RPP |url= https://rpp.pe/futbol/seleccion-peruana/manuel-burga-seoane-inicio-y-caida-de-su-carrera-en-el-balompie-nacional-noticia-1005084?ref=rpp |language=es |date=24 November 2016|access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref>{{efn-ua|In 2017, Burga faced charges of [[Racket (crime)|racketeering]], [[Mail and wire fraud|wire fraud]], and [[money laundering]] as part of the [[2015 FIFA corruption case]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=South America football corruption trial begins in New York | work=BBC News| publisher= British Broadcasting Corporation | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41977989|date=14 November 2017 |access-date=16 November 2017}}</ref> Although acquitted, the [[FIFA Ethics Committee]] ruled, in 2019, Burga guilty of receiving bribes for [[Copa Libertadores]] and Copa America tournaments, thereupon banning him for life on taking part in any football-related activity worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |first=Graham|last=Dunbar|title=FIFA bans Peruvian soccer official Burga for life|work=The Seattle Times|publisher=Frank A. Blethen | url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/fifa-bans-peruvian-soccer-official-burga-for-life/ |date=12 November 2019|access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref>}} The FPF's new leadership appointed [[Juan Carlos Oblitas]] as the federation's new director and [[Ricardo Gareca]] as Peru's manager in March 2015.<ref name="Gareca">{{cite news |date=2 March 2015 |title=Ricardo Gareca: "Es el desafío más importante de mi carrera" |url=http://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/seleccion/ricardo-gareca-presentado-tecnico-peru-videna-noticia-1794838?flsm=1 |access-date=3 March 2015 |work=El Comercio |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio |language=es}}</ref> Sports journalists credited Gareca with revitalizing Peru's football prowess by improving the players' training and professional conduct.<ref>{{cite web |first=Brian|last=Homewood|title=Soccer: Gareca leads extraordinary change in Peru's fortunes|work=Reuters|publisher=Thomson Reuters Corporation | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/soccer-worldcup-per/soccer-gareca-leads-extraordinary-change-in-perus-fortunes-idINKCN1J41GR |date=8 June 2018|access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref> Under Gareca, Peru participated in the group stage of the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|Russia 2018 World Cup]] finals and finished runners-up at the [[2019 Copa América]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Peru became the final side to qualify for the World Cup with a 2-0 play-off victory over New Zealand| work=BBC Sport| publisher= British Broadcasting Corporation | url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41989402|date=15 November 2017 |access-date=16 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Selección peruana salva el año con el Subcampeonato en Copa América|publisher=Líbero|url=https://libero.pe/futbol-peruano/seleccion-peruana/1527339-seleccion-peruana-salva-ano-subcampeonato-copa-america-brasil-2019-ricardo-gareca-paolo-guerrero-jefferson-farfan-resumen-youtube|language= es|date=31 December 2019|access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref> After Peru narrowly missed qualification for the [[2022 FIFA World Cup|Qatar 2022 World Cup]], losing the inter-continental play-off against Australia, the FPF appointed former team captain [[Juan Reynoso (footballer)|Juan Reynoso]] as Peru's new manager. Dissatisfied with results for the [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers]], the FPF replaced Reynoso with Uruguayan [[Jorge Fossati]] in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Coach Jorge Fossati to lead Peru's soccer team towards 2026 World Cup| work=Andina | publisher= Empresa Peruana de Servicios Editoriales SA - EDITORA PERÚ | url=https://andina.pe/Ingles/noticia-coach-jorge-fossati-to-lead-perus-soccer-team-towards-2026-world-cup-968305.aspx|date=28 December 2023 |access-date=12 April 2024}}</ref>

== Kit ==

{{main|Peru national football team kit}}

The Peru national football team plays in red and white, Peru's national colours.{{sfn|Witzig|2006|p=338}} Its first-choice [[Kit (association football)|kit]] has been, since 1936, white shorts, white socks, and white shirts with a distinctive red "[[sash]]" crossing their front diagonally from the [[Proper right|proper left]] shoulder to the right hip and returning on the back from the right hip to the proper left shoulder. This basic scheme has been only slightly altered over the years.<ref name="Arkivperu.com, ''La Blanquiroja''"/>

[[File:Peru national football team match against Mexico in Lima 1968 (retouched).png|upright=1.4|right|thumb|alt=Photo of twelve men, seven standing and five crouching, inside a stadium|Peru in 1968, wearing their traditional kit. The distinctive red "[[sash]]" has been emblazoned across Peru's white shirts continuously since 1936.]]

Peru's kit has won praise as one of world football's most attractive designs. Christopher Turpin, the executive producer of [[NPR]]'s ''[[All Things Considered]]'' news show, lauded the 1970 iteration as "the beautiful game's most beautiful shirt", also describing it as "[[Retro style|retro]] even in 1970".<ref>{{cite web | first=Christopher | last=Turpin | title=The Lost Elegance of Football Jerseys |publisher=NPR | url=https://www.npr.org/sections/showmeyourcleats/2010/06/15/127856504/the-lost-elegence-of-jerseys | date=15 June 2010| access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref> Miles Kohrman, football reporter for ''[[The New Republic]]'', commended Peru's kit as "one of soccer's best-kept secrets".<ref>{{cite web | first=Miles | last=Kohrman | title=Was This the Best World Cup Uniform of All Time? | publisher=The New Republic | url=https://newrepublic.com/article/118637/were-these-peru-kits-best-world-cup-uniform-ever | date=10 July 2014 | access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref> [[Rory Smith (journalist)|Rory Smith]], Chief Soccer Correspondent for ''[[The New York Times]]'', referred to Peru's 2018 version of the jersey as "a classic" with a nostalgic, fan-pleasing "blood-red sash".<ref>{{cite web | first=Vanessa| last=Friedman| title=A Fashion Expert and a Football Expert Had a Conversation About World Cup Kits |work=The New York Times| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/15/sports/world-cup/kits-uniforms-nigeria.html | date=15 June 2018 | access-date=24 June 2018}}</ref> The version worn in 1978 came first in a 2010 [[ESPN]] list of the "Best World Cup jerseys of all time", described therein as "simple yet strikingly effective".<ref>{{cite web | first=Roger | last=Bennett | title=Best World Cup jerseys of all time |publisher=ESPN| url=http://www.espn.com/world-cup/story/_/page/worldcup101-03082010/ce/us/best-world-cup-jerseys-all-time | date=10 March 2010 | access-date=15 October 2017}}</ref>

Peru's first kit, made for the 1927 South American Championship, comprised a white-and-red striped shirt, white shorts and black socks.<ref name="Pulgar Vidal, ''Hace80''">{{cite web | author=Jaime Pulgar-Vidal Otálora | title=Hace 80 Años Debutó Peru | publisher=Jaime Pulgar-Vidal| url=http://jaimepulgarvidal.blogspot.com/2007/02/hace-80-aos-debut-per.html| language=es | date=24 February 2007 | access-date=28 June 2013}}</ref> At the 1930 World Cup, Peru used an alternate design because [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]] had already registered a similar kit with white-and-red striped shirts. The Peruvians instead wore white shirts with a red collar, white shorts and black socks.<ref name="Pulgar Vidal, ''Hace80''"/> The team added a horizontal red stripe to the shirt for the 1935 South American Championship. The following year, at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the team adopted the iconic diagonal red sash design it has retained ever since.<ref name="Arkivperu.com, ''La Blanquiroja''">{{cite web | title=La Blanquiroja | publisher=ArkivPeru | url=http://www.arkivperu.com/blanquiroja.htm | language=es | access-date=28 June 2013 | archive-date=24 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224105348/http://www.arkivperu.com/blanquiroja.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref> According to historian Jaime Pulgar-Vidal Otálora, the idea for the design came from school football matches in which coloured sashes worn over the shoulder would allow two teams wearing white shirts to play against each other.<ref>{{cite web | author=Jaime Pulgar-Vidal Otálora | title=La Blanquiroja: La Camiseta de Todos los Colores | publisher=Jaime Pulgar-Vidal | url=http://jaimepulgarvidal.blogspot.com/2011/06/la-blanquiroja-la-camiseta-de-todos-los.html | language=es | date=6 September 2012 |access-date=28 June 2013}}</ref>

Peru wears as its badge the emblem of the Peruvian Football Federation. The first badge, presented in 1927, had a [[heater shield]] design with the country's name and the federation's acronym (FPF). Eight different emblems followed, with the longest-lasting design being the modern French [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|escutcheon]] form emblazoned in the team's jersey from 1953 until 2014. This design had the Peruvian flag at its base, and either the country's name or the federation's acronym at its chief. Since 2014, the badge has a retro-inspired heater shield design, with the entire field comprised by Peru's flag and the federation's acronym, surrounded by a gold-colored frame.<ref>{{cite web | first=Marcelo | last=Hidalgo | title=Federación Peruana de Fútbol: todos los escudos en su historia |work= Depor.com | publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio | url=https://depor.com/futbol-peruano/seleccion-peruana/federacion-peruana-futbol-escudos-historia-foto-interactiva-7015 | language=es | date=23 October 2016 |access-date=22 November 2017}}</ref>

Eight sportswear manufacturers have supplied Peru's national team. The first, German company [[Adidas]], supplied the team's kit in 1978 and 1983–1985. The FPF has signed contracts with manufacturers from Brazil ([[Penalty (sports manufacturer)|Penalty]], 1981–82), Switzerland ([[Bata Corporation|Power]], 1989–1991), Italy ([[Diadora]], 1991–1992), England ([[Umbro]], 1996–1997, 2010–2018), Ecuador ([[Marathon Sports]], 2018–2022), and another from Germany ([[Puma (brand)|Puma]], 1987–1989). The team has also been supplied by three local firms: Calvo Sporwear (1986–1987), Polmer (1993–1995), and [[Walon Sport]] (1998–2010).<ref>{{cite web | title=Las marcas que vistieron a la selección nacional | work=La República | publisher=Grupo La República | url=http://larepublica.pe/marketing/698450-las-marcas-que-vistieron-la-seleccion-nacional | language=es | date=24 August 2015 | access-date=16 November 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117122708/http://larepublica.pe/marketing/698450-las-marcas-que-vistieron-la-seleccion-nacional | archive-date=17 November 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first=Mario | last=Fernández |title=Modelo 2011: Conozca la Nueva Camiseta de la Selección peruana | work=El Comercio |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| url=http://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/seleccion/modelo-2011-conozca-nueva-camiseta-seleccion-peruana-noticia-678537 | language=es |date=3 December 2010 | access-date=14 February 2014}}</ref> Since January 2023, Adidas produces Peru's kit.<ref>{{cite web | title=¡Se hizo realidad! Adidas presentó la nueva camiseta de la Selección Peruana|url=https://depor.com/futbol-peruano/seleccion-peruana/seleccion-peruana-presentacion-de-la-nueva-camiseta-de-adidas-en-vivo-en-directo-fecha-hora-y-canal-para-ver-transmision-sigue-minuto-a-minuto-fpf-play-noticia/ | language=es |date=17 January 2023 | access-date=16 June 2023}}</ref>

== Stadium ==

{{main|Estadio Nacional del Perú}}

{{multiple image|caption_align=left|header_align=center

| align = right

| direction = vertical

| width = 235

| image1 = Estadio Nacional de Lima, Peru..jpg

| alt1 = Photograph of the exterior of a modern football stadium

| caption1 = Exterior of the Estadio Nacional in 2013.

| image2 = Inside Estadio Nacional (Lima, Peru).jpg

| alt2 = Photograph of a modern football stadium's interior; the stands are full of spectators

| caption2 = Interior of the Estadio Nacional in 2011.

}}

The traditional home of Peruvian football is the country's national stadium, the Estadio Nacional in Lima, which seats 50,000 spectators.{{sfn|Henshaw|1979|p=571}} The present ground is the Estadio Nacional's third incarnation, renovated under the [[Alan García]] administration. Its official re-inauguration, 24 July 2011,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/seleccion/estadio-nacional-se-inauguro-seleccion-fuegos-artificiales-noticia-944893 | title=Estadio Nacional se inauguró con la selección y fuegos artificiales | work=El Comercio |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio|language=es | date=24 July 2011 |access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref> marked 88 years to the day after the [[Estadio Nacional (1897)|original ground]] opened on the same site in 1923.<ref name=colonia/>

To celebrate the centenary of Peru's [[Peruvian War of Independence|independence]] from Spain, Lima's British community donated the original Estadio Nacional, a wooden structure with a capacity of 6,000.<ref name=colonia>{{cite web | url=http://www.britanico.edu.pe/Index.aspx?aID=34&iID=1128 | title=Colonia británica donó primer estadio nacional | publisher=Británico | language=es | date=25 July 2011 | access-date=5 July 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705133527/http://www.britanico.edu.pe/Index.aspx?aID=34&iID=1128 | archive-date=5 July 2015 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Construction began on 28 July 1921, overseen by President [[Augusto B. Leguía]].<ref name=GoogleMaps>{{cite news | language=es |title=Google Maps: Así luce el Estadio Nacional desde el aplicativo | url=https://elcomercio.pe/redes-sociales/google/google-maps-luce-estadio-nacional-aplicativo-145458 |work=El Comercio |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| date=18 March 2017| access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref> The stadium's re-inauguration on 27 October 1952, under the [[Manuel A. Odría]] administration, followed an onerous campaign for its renovation led by Miguel Dasso, president of the ''Sociedad de Beneficencia de Lima''.<ref name=dasso/>{{sfn|Leigh Raffo|2005|p=266}} The renovated stadium boasted a cement structure and larger spectator capacity of 53,000.<ref name=GoogleMaps/> Its last redevelopment, in 2011, included the construction of a plaque-covered exterior, an internal multicoloured illumination system, two giant [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] screens, and 375 private suites.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://blog.pucp.edu.pe/blog/victornomberto/2011/07/23/historia-del-estadio-nacional/ | first= Víctor R. | last= Nomberto | title=Historia del Estadio Nacional | publisher=PUCP | language=es | date=23 July 2011 | access-date=29 June 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.andina.com.pe/agencia/noticia-ipd-ofrece-un-recorrido-360-del-estadio-nacional-lima-371067.aspx|title=IPD ofrece un recorrido en 360° del Estadio Nacional de Lima|publisher=Andina.com|date=26 July 2011|access-date=4 July 2015|language=es}}</ref>

A distinctive feature of the ground is the Miguel Dasso Tower on its north side, which contains [[luxury box]]es (renovated in 2004).<ref name=dasso>{{cite web | url=http://blog.pucp.edu.pe/blog/juanluisorrego/2008/10/20/estadios-de-futbol-en-lima-1/ | author= Juan Luis Orrego Penagos | title=Estadios de fútbol en Lima (1) | publisher=PUCP | language=es | date=20 October 2008 |access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref> The Estadio Nacional currently has a natural [[Cynodon dactylon|bermudagrass]] pitch, reinstalled as part of redevelopments completed in 2011. Previously, the FPF had installed [[artificial turf]] in the stadium for the [[2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship]], making it the only national stadium in CONMEBOL with such a turf.<ref name=nosintetico>{{cite news | url=http://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/futbol-peruano/no-mas-sintetico-estadio-nacional-ya-luce-cesped-natural-noticia-703352| title=No más sintético: el Estadio Nacional ya luce césped natural | work=El Comercio |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| language=es | date=24 January 2011 | access-date=29 June 2013 }}</ref> Despite the synthetic ground's rating of "FIFA Star II", the highest certification granted to artificial pitches, players accused the turf of causing them injuries, such as burns and bruises.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/411306.html | title=Evaluará FIFA Cuestionadas Canchas Artificiales en Perú | work=El Universal| language=es |date=9 March 2007 | access-date=4 July 2015 | publisher=El Universal Compañía Periodística Nacional| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202114440/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/411306.html |archive-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>

Peru sometimes play home matches at other venues. Outside the desert-like coast region of Lima, the thin atmosphere at the high-altitude [[Estadio Garcilaso de la Vega]] in [[Cusco]] has been described as providing strategic advantages for Peru against certain visiting teams.{{sfn|Witzig|2006|pp=323–325}} Other common alternate venues for the national team include two other grounds in the Peruvian capital—Alianza's [[Estadio Alejandro Villanueva]] and [[Club Universitario de Deportes|Universitario]]'s [[Estadio Monumental "U"|Estadio Monumental <nowiki>''U''</nowiki>]].<ref>{{cite web | title=La selección también jugará en Matute | work=Perú 21 | url=http://peru21.pe/noticia/715520/seleccion-tambien-jugara-matute | language=es | date=18 February 2011 | access-date=29 June 2013 | publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio | archive-date=2 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202113053/http://peru21.pe/noticia/715520/seleccion-tambien-jugara-matute | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Selección Nacional podría jugar ante Ecuador en el Estadio Monumental | work=Depor.pe | url=http://depor.pe/futbol-peruano/seleccion-nacional-estadio-monumental-eliminatorias-2014-noticia-905188 | language=es | date=10 April 2013 | access-date=4 July 2015 | publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706011357/http://depor.pe/futbol-peruano/seleccion-nacional-estadio-monumental-eliminatorias-2014-noticia-905188 | archive-date=6 July 2015 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The national team's training grounds are located within the ''[[Villa Deportiva Nacional]]'' (VIDENA) [[sports complex]] in Lima's [[San Luis District, Lima|San Luis]] district. Since 1981, the complex is managed by the Peruvian Institute of Sport (IPD).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://archivo.elcomercio.pe/sociedad/lima/terreno-videna-ipd-senala-serpar-ante-reclamo-vecinos-noticia-1628980| title=Terreno de la Videna es del IPD, señala Serpar ante reclamo de vecinos| work=El Comercio| publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| language=es| date=9 September 2013| access-date=23 November 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040154/http://archivo.elcomercio.pe/sociedad/lima/terreno-videna-ipd-senala-serpar-ante-reclamo-vecinos-noticia-1628980| archive-date=1 December 2017| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2017, following Peru's qualification for the Russia 2018 World Cup finals, the Peruvian Football Federation announced the creation of a new complex, the Center of National Teams, in Lima's [[Chaclacayo]] district. The new complex will contain six training grounds for both the male and the female squads, including the senior and the youth sides.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://depor.com/futbol-peruano/seleccion-peruana/peru-clasifico-rusia-2018-conoce-futura-videna-construira-chaclacayo-54238| title=Perú clasificó a Rusia 2018 y tendrá nueva casa | work=Depor.pe |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| language=es | date=11 November 2017| access-date=23 November 2017}}</ref> In 2023, the FPF also announced its ''Plan Maestro'', which incorporates modernized infrastructure in the VIDENA.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Plan Maestro: La Bicolor® y el Fútbol Peruano Tendrán Modernas Instalaciones en la Videna de San Luis |url=https://fpf.org.pe/plan-maestro-fpf-remodelara-la-videna-en-beneficio-de-la-bicolor-y-el-futbol-peruano/}}</ref>

== Supporters ==

{{see also|Football in Peru}}

[[File:Machu Picchu, Peru - Laslovarga (267).jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph of a large poster, placed on a wall behind a tree, depicting a man celebrating|Giant poster in [[Aguas Calientes, Peru|the town]] below [[Machu Picchu]], featuring [[Edison Flores]] and the cheer ''¡Arriba Perú!''|180x180px]]

Football has been the most popular sport in Peru since the early 20th century, with Peru having one of the largest fanbases in America's and possibly the world.{{sfn|Bravo|2012|p=42}} Originally largely exclusive to Lima's [[Anglophile]] elite and expatriates, and secluded from the rest of the city,{{sfn|Wood|2007|p=128}} football became an integral part of wider popular culture during the 1900s and 1910s. Over the following decades, Augusto Leguía's government institutionalised the sport into a national pastime by promoting and organising its development.{{sfn|Wood|2007|pp=128–129}} Consequently, the national football team became an important element of Peru's [[national identity]].{{sfn|Campomar|2014|pp=303–304}} According to the historian Carlos Aguirre, [[Nationalism|nationalist]] fervor spiked during the [[1970 FIFA World Cup qualification|qualification phase]] for the 1970 World Cup finals, because the revolutionary government of General [[Juan Velasco Alvarado]] tied the national team's success with the alleged cultural, social, and psychological changes spurred by the country's new political project.{{sfn|Aguirre|2013|pp=397–398}}

Peruvian football fans are known for their distinctive cheer ''¡Arriba Perú!'' ("Onward Peru!"),{{sfn|Foley Gambetta|1983|p=12}} unabating popular chant ''[[Vamos (football chant)|¡Vamos peruanos!]]'' (Let's go Peruvians!),<ref>{{cite web | first=Roberto | last=Ochoa | title=El tango del ganador | work=La República |publisher=Grupo La República| url=https://larepublica.pe/politica/1267920-tango-ganador | language=es |date=27 June 2018 | access-date=27 June 2018}}</ref> as well as for their use of traditional Peruvian ''[[música criolla]]'' to express support, both at national team games and at club matches. ''Música criolla'' attained national and international recognition with the advent of [[mass media]] during the 1930s, becoming a recognised symbol of Peru and its culture.{{sfn|Wood|2007|p=130}} The national team's most popular anthems are ''Peru Campeón'', a ''polca criolla'' (Peruvian polka) glorifying Peru's qualification for the Mexico 1970 World Cup,{{sfn|Wood|2007|p=130}} and ''Contigo Perú'', a ''[[vals criollo]]'' (Peruvian waltz) that newspaper ''[[El Comercio (Peru)|El Comercio]]'' calls "the hymn of Peruvian national football teams".<ref>{{cite news | language=es |title=Cuando Óscar Avilés "clasificó" con Perú al Mundial de 1978 | url=http://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/seleccion/cuando-oscar-aviles-clasifico-peru-al-mundial-1978-noticia-1720732 |work=El Comercio |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| date=5 April 2014| access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref>{{efn-ua|Peru's unsuccessful World Cup finals qualification attempts, from Mexico 1986 until Russia 2018, cemented the fans' nostalgia for the 1970s' golden era and increased the popularity of ''Peru Campeón''.{{sfn|Aguirre|2013|p=412}}}} In 2018, a FIFA-sanctioned worldwide [[Open-access poll|online poll]] honoured the "fervent and dedicated group" of Peruvian supporters at that year's World Cup tournament with the [[The Best FIFA Football Awards|FIFA Fan Award]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The FIFA Fan Award | url=https://www.fifa.com/the-best-fifa-football-awards/fan-award/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106182253/http://www.fifa.com/the-best-fifa-football-awards/fan-award/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=6 January 2017 | publisher=FIFA.com| access-date=3 July 2019}}</ref>

The [[Estadio Nacional disaster]] of 24 May 1964, involving Peruvian supporters, is cited as one of the worst tragedies in football history.<ref>See:

* {{harvnb|Snyder|2001|p=78}},

* {{harvnb|Goldblatt|2008|p=642}}.</ref> During a qualifying match for the [[1964 Summer Olympics|1964 Olympics]] between Peru's under-20 team and its counterpart from Argentina, the Uruguayan referee Angel Payos disallowed a would-be Peruvian equaliser, alleging rough play. Spectators threw missiles from the stands while two fans invaded the pitch and attacked the referee. Police threw [[tear gas]] into the crowd, causing a stampede; trying to escape, fans were crushed against the stadium's locked gates. A total of 315 people died in the chaos, with more than 500 others injured.<ref>See:

* {{harvnb|Snyder|2001|p=79}},

* {{harvnb|Goldblatt|2008|p=642}}.</ref>

== Rivalries ==

=== Chile ===

{{main|Chile–Peru football rivalry}}

[[File:Raul Toro y Lolo Fernandez.jpg|upright|thumb|alt=Portrait of two men, dressed in sports attire, looking straight at the viewer|Chile's [[Raúl Toro Julio|Raúl Toro]] and Peru's [[Teodoro Fernández]], opponents in the [[1937 South American Championship]].]]

The Peru national football team maintains prominent rivalries with its counterparts from neighbouring [[Chile national football team|Chile]] and [[Ecuador national football team|Ecuador]]. The Peruvians have a favourable record against Ecuador and a negative record against Chile.<ref name="Ecuador Peru record">{{cite news | title=Ecuador-Peru, 1938–2011|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/ecuaperures.html|date=6 March 2012| website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=17 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="Chile Peru record">{{cite news|title=Chile&nbsp;– Peru matches, 1935–2011|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/chilperures.html|date=6 March 2012|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=17 June 2013}}</ref> Peru faced both rivals in the 1939 South American Championship in Lima, which also marked the first time that Peru faced Ecuador in an official tournament; Peru won both games.{{sfn|Henshaw|1979|p=652}} Peru also defeated its rivals during qualifying for the [[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|Argentina 1978 World Cup]], directly eliminating both teams.<ref name="Ecuador Peru record"/><ref name="Chile Peru record"/>

The Chile–Peru football rivalry is known in Spanish as the ''Clásico del Pacífico'' ("Pacific Derby").<ref name="Chile Peru rivalry"/> [[CNN]] World Sport editor Greg Duke ranks it among the top ten football rivalries in the world.<ref>{{cite news |first=Greg |last=Duke |title=Top 10 international rivalries |publisher=CNN |access-date=27 June 2013 |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/football/11/06/first11.rivalries/index.html |date=6 November 2008}}</ref> Peru first faced Chile in the 1935 South American Championship, defeating it 1–0.<ref name="Chile Peru record"/> The football rivalry between Peru and Chile, partly a reflection of the geopolitical conflict between both neighboring states, is primarily a result of both football squads vying for recognition as the better team in South America's Pacific coast—as their football confederation is historically dominated by countries in South America's Atlantic coast.<ref>{{cite thesis|type=Licentiate|last=Pahuacho Portella|first=Alonso Roberto|date=2017|title=La representación de la rivalidad futbolística Perú/Chile en la prensa escrita peruana: Análisis de los diarios El Comercio, La Prensa y La Crónica (1935-1947)|language=es|publisher=Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú|place=Lima|url=http://tesis.pucp.edu.pe/repositorio/handle/123456789/9774}}</ref> The two countries traditionally compete with each other over the rank of fourth-best national team in South America (after Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay).{{sfn|Henshaw|1979|p=126}} They also both claim to have invented the [[bicycle kick]]; Peruvians call it the ''chalaca'', while it is the ''chilena'' in Chile.{{sfn|Witzig|2006|p=22}}

=== Ecuador ===

The rivalry between the Ecuador and Peru football teams is rooted in the historical [[History of the Ecuadorian–Peruvian territorial dispute|border conflict]] between the two nations dating back to the 19th century. In 1995, after the brief [[Cenepa War]], CONMEBOL contemplated altering [[1995 Copa América|that year's Copa América]] group stage to prevent a match between the two sides, but ultimately did not.{{sfn|Llopis|2009|p=171}} According to cultural historian [[Michael Handelsman]], Ecuadorian fans consider losses to [[Colombia national football team|Colombia]] or Peru "an excuse to lament Ecuador's inability to establish itself as an international soccer power".{{sfn|Handelsman|2000|p=49}} Handelsman adds that "[t]he rivalries are intense, and the games always carry an element of national pride and honor".{{sfn|Handelsman|2000|p=49}}

==Results and fixtures==

{{Further|Peru national football team results (2020–present)}}

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

{{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFFFCC|Draw|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFCCCC|Loss|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFFFFF|Fixture|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

===2023===

{{football box collapsible

|format = 1

|round = [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]

|date = 16 June

|time = {{UTZ|20:00|9}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|KOR}}

|score = 0–1

|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/16/world/friendlies/korea-republic/peru/4068083/

|team2 = {{fb|PER}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

*[[Bryan Reyna|Reyna]] {{goal|11}}

|stadium = [[Busan Asiad Main Stadium]]

|location = [[Busan]], South Korea

|attendance =52,443

|referee =[[Shaun Evans (referee)|Shaun Evans]] ([[Australia]])

|result =W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = [[Kirin Cup Soccer#2023 Kirin Challenge Cup|2023 Kirin Challenge Cup]]<ref name="List of International matches">{{cite web |url=https://www.jfa.jp/eng/international_match/ |title=List of International matches |website=jfa.jp |publisher=[[Japan Football Association]] (JFA) |access-date=4 January 2022}}</ref>

| date = 20 June

| time = {{UTZ|18:55|9}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

| score = 4–1

| team2 = {{fb|PER}}

| report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/20/world/friendlies/japan/peru/4068254/

| goals1 =

*[[Hiroki Ito (footballer, born 1999)|H. Ito]] {{goal|22}}

*[[Kaoru Mitoma|Mitoma]] {{goal|37}}

*[[Junya Itō (footballer, born 1993)|J. Itō]] {{goal|63}}

*[[Daizen Maeda|Maeda]] {{goal|75}}

| goals2 =

*[[Christofer Gonzáles|Gonzáles]] {{goal|83}}

| location = [[Suita]], Japan

| stadium = [[Panasonic Stadium Suita]]

| attendance = 35,001

| referee = [[Khamis Al-Marri]] ([[Qatar Football Association|Qatar]])

| result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2026 World Cup qualification]]

|date = 7 September

|time = {{UTZ|18:30|−4}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PAR}}

|score = 0–0

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288315/288316/400017275

|team2 = {{fb|PER}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = [[Estadio Antonio Aranda]]

|location = [[Ciudad del Este]], Paraguay

|attendance = 16,211

|referee = [[Andrés Matonte]] ([[Uruguayan Football Association|Uruguay]])

|result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2026 World Cup qualification]]

|date = 12 September

|time = {{UTZ|21:00|−5}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PER}}

|score = 0–1

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288315/288316/400017283

|team2 = {{fb|BRA}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

*[[Marquinhos]] {{goal|90}}

|stadium = [[Estadio Nacional del Perú|Estadio Nacional]]

|location = [[Lima]], Peru

|attendance = 56,328

|referee = [[Fernando Rapallini]] ([[Argentine Football Association|Argentina]])

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2026 World Cup qualification]]

|date = 12 October

|time = {{UTZ|21:00|−3}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|CHI}}

|score = 2–0

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288315/288316/400017347

|team2 = {{fb|PER}}

|goals1 =

*[[Diego Valdés (Chilean footballer)|Valdés]] {{goal|74}}

*[[Marcos López|López]] {{goal|90+1|o.g.}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = [[Estadio Monumental David Arellano]]

|location = [[Santiago]], Chile

|attendance = 36,847

|referee = [[Wilmar Roldán]] ([[Colombian Football Federation|Colombia]])

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2026 World Cup qualification]]

|date = 17 October

|time = {{UTZ|21:00|−5}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PER}}

|score = 0–2

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288315/288316/400017348

|team2 = {{fb|ARG}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

*[[Lionel Messi|Messi]] {{goal|32||42}}

|stadium = [[Estadio Nacional del Perú|Estadio Nacional]]

|location = [[Lima]], Peru

|attendance = 37,675

|referee = [[Jesús Valenzuela]] ([[Venezuelan Football Federation|Venezuela]])

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2026 World Cup qualification]]

|date = 16 November

|time = {{UTZ|16:00|-4}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|BOL}}

|score = 2–0

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288315/288316/400017641?gender=1&date=2023-11-16&prev=competition

|team2 = {{fb|PER}}

|goals1 =

*[[Henry Vaca|H. Vaca]] {{goal|20}}

*[[Ramiro Vaca|R. Vaca]] {{goal|87}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = [[Estadio Hernando Siles]]

|location = [[La Paz]], Bolivia

|attendance = 28,000

|referee = [[Guillermo Guerrero]] ([[Ecuadorian Football Federation|Ecuador]])

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2026 World Cup qualification]]

|date = 21 November

|time = {{UTZ|21:00|-5}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PER}}

|score = 1–1

|report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288315/288316/400017644?gender=1&date=2023-11-22

|team2 = {{fb|VEN}}

|goals1 =

*[[Yoshimar Yotun|Y.Yotun]] {{goal|17}}

|goals2 =

*[[Jefferson Savarino|J.Savarino]] {{goal|54}}

|stadium = [[Estadio Nacional del Perú]]

|location = [[Lima]], Peru

|attendance = 27,323

|referee = [[Darío Herrera (referee)|Darío Herrera]] ([[Argentine Football Association|Argentina]])

|result = D

}}

===2024===

{{football box collapsible

|format=1

|date = 22 March

|time = {{UTZ|20:45|+1}}

|round = [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PER}}

|score = 2–0

|report =https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/697143/nicaragua-peru

|team2 = {{fb|NCA}}

|goals1 =* [[Joao Grimaldo|Grimaldo]] {{goal|2}}

* [[Gianluca Lapadula|Lapadula]] {{goal|12}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = [[Estadio Alejandro Villanueva]]

|location = [[Lima]], Peru

|attendance =33,900

|referee =[[Paulo Cezar Zanovelli Da Silva|Paulo Cezar Zanovelli]] ([[Brazilian Football Federation|Brazil]])

|result =W

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|format = 1

|round = [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]

|date = 26 March

|time = {{UTZ|20:00|−4}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PER}}

|score = 4–1

|report =https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/697144/dominican-republic-peru

|team2 = {{fb|DOM}}

|goals1 =* [[Sergio Peña (Peruvian footballer)|Peña]] {{goal|18}}

* [[Jesús Castillo (Peruvian footballer)|Castillo]] {{goal|45+1}}

* [[Piero Quispe|Quispe]] {{goal|54}}

* [[Paolo Guerrero|Guerrero]] {{goal|90+4|pen.}}

|goals2 =* [[Jean Carlos López|J.C. López]] {{goal|58}}

|stadium = [[Estadio Monumental "U"|Estadio Monumental]]

|location = [[Lima]], Peru

|attendance =

|referee =[[Braulio Da Silva Machado]] ([[Brazilian Football Federation|Brazil]])

|result =W

}}

{{football box collapsible|format=1

|date = 7 June

|time = {{UTZ|20:45|+1}}

|round = [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PER}}

|score =

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|PAR}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = [[Estadio Monumental "U"|Estadio Monumental]]

|location = [[Lima]], Peru

|attendance =

|referee =

|result =

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

|format = 1

|round = [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]

|date = 14 June

|time = {{UTZ|20:00|−4}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PER}}

|score =

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|SLV}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = [[Lincoln Financial Field]]

|location = [[Philadelphia]], United States

|attendance =

|referee =

|result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2024 Copa América]]

|date = 21 June

|time = {{UTZ|19:00|−5}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PER}}

|score =

|team2 = {{fb|CHI}}

|report =

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = [[AT&T Stadium]]

|location = [[Arlington, Texas|Arlington]], United States

|attendance =

|referee =

|result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2024 Copa América]]

|date = 25 June

|time = {{UTZ|17:00|−5}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PER}}

|score =

|team2 = {{fb|CAN}}

|report =

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = [[Children's Mercy Park]]

|location = [[Kansas City, Kansas|Kansas City]], United States

|attendance =

|referee =

|result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2024 Copa América]]

|date = 29 June

|time = {{UTZ|20:00|−4}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|ARG}}

|score =

|team2 = {{fb|PER}}

|report =

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = [[Hard Rock Stadium]]

|location = [[Miami Gardens, Florida|Miami Gardens]], United States

|attendance =

|referee =

|result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2026 World Cup qualification]]

|date = September

|time = {{UTZ|--:--|−5}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PER}}

|score =

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|COL}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = [[Estadio Nacional del Perú|Estadio Nacional]]

|location = [[Lima]], Peru

|attendance =

|referee =

|result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2026 World Cup qualification]]

|date = September

|time = {{UTZ|--:--|-5}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|ECU}}

|score =

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|PER}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium =

|location = Ecuador

|attendance =

|referee =

|result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2026 World Cup qualification]]

|date = October

|time = {{UTZ|--:--|-5}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PER}}

|score =

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|URU}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = [[Estadio Nacional del Perú]]

|location = [[Lima]], Peru

|attendance =

|referee =

|result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2026 World Cup qualification]]

|date = October

|time = {{UTZ|--:--|-3}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|BRA}}

|score =

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|PER}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium =

|location = Brazil

|attendance =

|referee =

|result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2026 World Cup qualification]]

|date = November

|time = {{UTZ|--:--|-5}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PER}}

|score =

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|CHI}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = [[Estadio Nacional del Perú]]

|location = [[Lima]], Peru

|attendance =

|referee =

|result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible|format=1

|round = [[2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2026 World Cup qualification]]

|date = November

|time = {{UTZ|--:--|-3}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|ARG}}

|score =

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|PER}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium =

|location = Argentina

|attendance =

|referee =

|result =

}}

== Managers ==

{{main|Peru national football team manager}}

[[File:Valdir Pereira Peru Coach in 1970.png|thumb|upright|right|alt=Photo of a man with a moustache, wearing a sports outfit, in a thoughtful pose|[[Didi (footballer, born 1928)|Didi]] managed Peru at the Mexico 1970 World Cup.]]

A total of 44 [[Manager (association football)|managers]] have led the Peru national football team since 1927 (including multiple spells separately); of these, 36 have been from Peru and 24 have been from abroad.<ref name="Entrenadores">{{cite web | title=Selección peruana: Estos han sido sus entrenadores a lo largo de la historia | work=Perú21 | publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio | url=http://peru21.pe/deportes/seleccion-peruana-estos-han-sido-sus-entrenadores-lo-largo-historia-2213629 | date=5 March 2015 | access-date=22 June 2015 | language=es | archive-date=23 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623051224/http://peru21.pe/deportes/seleccion-peruana-estos-han-sido-sus-entrenadores-lo-largo-historia-2213629 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Sports analysts and historians generally consider Peru's most successful managers to have been the Englishman [[Jack Greenwell]] and the Peruvian [[Marcos Calderón]]. The former managed Peru to triumph in the 1938 Bolivarian Games and the 1939 South American Championship, and the latter led Peru to victory in the 1975 Copa América tournament and coached it at the 1978 FIFA World Cup.<ref name="Once Ideal"/>{{sfn|Panfichi|Vich|2005|p=162}} Three other managers have led Peru to tournament victories—[[Juan Carlos Oblitas]], [[Freddy Ternero]], and [[Sergio Markarián]] each oversaw Peru's victory in the Kirin Cup in Japan, in 1999, 2005 and 2011, respectively.<ref>{{cite news |title=Perú comparte la Copa Kirin con Japón y República Checa | work=El Comercio |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| url=http://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/futbol-peruano/peru-comparte-copa-kirin-japon-republica-checa-noticia-772722 | date=7 June 2011 |access-date=4 July 2015| language=es}}</ref>

Soon after forming Peru's national football team, the FPF invited Uruguayan coaches Pedro Olivieri and Julio Borelli to manage the squad. Olivieri received the FPF's first appointment, for the 1927 South American Championship, due to his prior experience managing [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]]. Borelli became the national team's second manager, for the 1929 South American Championship, after some years of [[Referee (association football)|refereeing]] football matches in Peru.<ref>{{cite web | first=Raúl | last=Behr |title=El entrenador del silbato | publisher=DeChalaca| url=http://dechalaca.com/informes/curiosidades/el-entrenador-del-silbato | date=6 June 2012 |access-date=28 June 2013| language=es}}</ref> The Spaniard [[Francisco Bru]], Peru's third manager and first World Cup coach at the inaugural tournament in 1930, previously had been [[Spain national football team|Spain]]'s first manager.<ref name="Once Ideal">{{cite web | first=Roberto | last=Castro |title=Once Ideal: La cumbre de los técnicos | publisher=DeChalaca | url=http://dechalaca.com/hemeroteca/el-once-ideal/080516rconcetecnicoseuropeos | date=16 May 2008 |access-date=28 June 2013| language=es}}</ref> The FPF next appointed the national team's first Peruvian coach, Telmo Carbajo, for the [[1935 South American Championship]].<ref name="Entrenadores"/> Coach [[Ricardo Gareca]] was credited well, bringing Peru to the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]], finished second in the [[2019 Copa América|2019]] and placed third in [[2015 Copa América|2015]] and fourth in [[2021 Copa América|2021 Copa América's]], along with almost bringing Peru to their 6th World Cup in [[2022 FIFA World Cup|2022]] but was removed in 2022. The team's manager since December 2023 is the Uruguayan, [[Jorge Fossati]]

Managers that brought outstanding changes to the Peru national team's style of play include the Hungarian [[György Orth]] and the Brazilians [[Didi (footballer, born 1928)|Didi]] and [[Tim (footballer)|Tim]]. Orth coached Peru from 1957 to 1959; sports historian Andreas Campomar cites Peru's "4–1 thrashing of England in Lima" as evidence of Orth's positive influence over the national team's offensive game.{{sfn|Campomar|2014|p=304}} [[Víctor Benítez]], Peru's defensive midfielder under Orth, attributes the Hungarian with maximizing the team's potential by accurately placing each player in their [[Association football positions|optimal positions]].<ref>{{cite web | author=Mario Fernández Guevara | title=Víctor Benítez: "¿Pizarro jugó? Yo sí jugué los 90 minutos y fui campeón de Europa" | work=El Comercio | publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio | url=http://archivo.elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/futbol-mundial/victor-benitez-pizarro-jugo-yo-si-jugue-90-minutos-fui-campeon-europa-noticia-1674442 | date=17 December 2013 | access-date=27 November 2017 | language=es | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035131/http://archivo.elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/futbol-mundial/victor-benitez-pizarro-jugo-yo-si-jugue-90-minutos-fui-campeon-europa-noticia-1674442 | archive-date=1 December 2017 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Didi coached Peru from 1968 to 1970 and managed it at the 1970 FIFA World Cup; Campomar attributes Didi's tactics as the reason for Peru's development of a "free-flowing football" style.{{sfn|Campomar|2014|p=304}} ''[[Placar]]'', a Brazilian sports journal, attributed Tim, who managed Peru at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, with making Peru "a team that plays beautiful, combining efficiency with that swagger that people thought only existed in Brazil".<ref>{{cite journal| first= Sérgio | last= Cabral |title= A Bringo O Jogo |journal= Placar | issue=592 |page=30|publisher= Editora Abril |date= 1981}}</ref>

== Players ==

=== Current squad ===

The following players were called up for the [[Exhibition game|friendly matches]] against [[Nicaragua national football team|Nicaragua]] and the [[Dominican Republic national football team|Dominican Republic]] on 22 and 26 March 2024, respectively.<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Peruvian Football Federation|author-link=Peruvian Football Federation|user=SeleccionPeru|number=1767288216112013603|title=📋 𝗟𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶|date=11 March 2024|language=es|access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref>

''Caps and goals are correct as of 26 March 2024, after the match against [[Dominican Republic national football team|Dominican Republic]].''

{{nat fs g start}}

{{nat fs g player|no=1|pos=GK|name=[[Pedro Gallese]]|other=|age={{Birth date and age|1990|2|23|df=y}}|caps=104|goals=0|club=[[Orlando City SC|Orlando City]]|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=12|pos=GK|name=[[Carlos Cáceda]]|age={{Birth date and age|1991|9|27|df=y}}|caps=8|goals=0|club=[[FBC Melgar|Melgar]]|clubnat=PER}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=GK|name=[[Diego Romero (footballer, born 2001)|Diego Romero]]|age={{Birth date and age|2001|8|17|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Club Universitario de Deportes|Universitario]]|clubnat=PER}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=GK|name=[[Renato Solís]]|age={{Birth date and age|1998|1|27|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Sporting Cristal]]|clubnat=PER}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs g player|no=17|pos=DF|name=[[Luis Advíncula]]|age={{Birth date and age|1990|3|2|df=y}}|caps=116|goals=2|club=[[Boca Juniors]]|clubnat=ARG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=6|pos=DF|name=[[Miguel Trauco]]|age={{Birth date and age|1992|8|25|df=y}}|caps=75|goals=0|club=[[Criciúma Esporte Clube|Criciúma]]|clubnat=BRA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=3|pos=DF|name=[[Aldo Corzo]]|age={{Birth date and age|1989|5|20|df=y}}|caps=51|goals=0|club=[[Club Universitario de Deportes|Universitario]]|clubnat=PER}}

{{nat fs g player|no=2|pos=DF|name=[[Luis Abram]]|age={{Birth date and age|1996|2|27|df=y}}|caps=40|goals=1|club=[[Atlanta United FC|Atlanta United]]|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=22|pos=DF|name=[[Alexander Callens]]|age={{Birth date and age|1992|5|4|df=y}}|caps=40|goals=1|club=[[AEK Athens F.C.|AEK Athens]]|clubnat=GRE}}

{{nat fs g player|no=26|pos=DF|name=[[Marcos López]]|age={{Birth date and age|1999|11|20|df=y}}|caps=33|goals=0|club=[[Feyenoord]]|clubnat=NED}}

{{nat fs g player|no=5|pos=DF|name=[[Miguel Araujo]]|age={{Birth date and age|1994|10|24|df=y}}|caps=30|goals=0|club=[[Portland Timbers]]|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=4|pos=DF|name=[[Anderson Santamaría]]|age={{Birth date and age|1992|1|10|df=y}}|caps=27|goals=0|club=[[Atlas F.C.|Atlas]]|clubnat=MEX}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Carlos Ascues]]|age={{Birth date and age|1992|6|19|df=y}}|caps=26|goals=5|club=[[Club Deportivo Universidad César Vallejo|Universidad César Vallejo]]|clubnat=PER}}

{{nat fs g player|no=19|pos=DF|name=[[Oliver Sonne]]|age={{Birth date and age|2000|11|10|df=y}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=[[Silkeborg_IF|Silkeborg]]|clubnat=DEN}}

{{nat fs g player|no=13|pos=DF|name=[[Erick Noriega]]|age={{birth date and age|df=y|2001|7|22}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=[[Comerciantes Unidos]]|clubnat=PER}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs g player|no=10|pos=MF|name=[[Sergio Peña (Peruvian footballer)|Sergio Peña]]|age={{Birth date and age|1995|9|28|df=y}}|caps=36|goals=4|club=[[Malmö FF]]|clubnat=SWE}}

{{nat fs g player|no=16|pos=MF|name=[[Wilder Cartagena]]|age={{Birth date and age|1994|9|23|df=y}}|caps=31|goals=0|club=[[Orlando City SC|Orlando City]]|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=15|pos=MF|name=[[Jesús Castillo (Peruvian footballer)|Jesús Castillo]]|age={{Birth date and age|2001|6|11|df=y}}|caps=8|goals=1|club=[[Gil Vicente F.C.|Gil Vicente]]|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=8|pos=MF|name=[[Piero Quispe]]|age={{Birth date and age|2001|8|14|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=1|club=[[Club Universidad Nacional|UNAM]]|clubnat=MEX}}

{{nat fs g player|no=21|pos=MF|name=[[Martín Távara]]|age={{Birth date and age|1999|3|25|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=[[Sporting Cristal]]|clubnat=PER}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs g player|no=9|pos=FW|name=[[Paolo Guerrero]]|age={{Birth date and age|1984|1|1|df=y}}|caps=117|goals=[[List of international goals scored by Paolo Guerrero|39]]|club=[[Club Deportivo Universidad César Vallejo|Universidad César Vallejo]]|clubnat=PER|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}

{{nat fs g player|no=20|pos=FW|name=[[Edison Flores]]|age={{Birth date and age|1994|5|15|df=y}}|caps=71|goals=15|club=[[Club Universitario de Deportes|Universitario]]|clubnat=PER}}

{{nat fs g player|no=7|pos=FW|name=[[Andy Polo]]|age={{Birth date and age|1994|9|29|df=y}}|caps=44|goals=1|club=[[Club Atlético Platense|Platense]]|clubnat=ARG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=14|pos=FW|name=[[Gianluca Lapadula]]|age={{Birth date and age|1990|2|7|df=y}}|caps=31|goals=9|club=[[Cagliari Calcio|Cagliari]]|clubnat=ITA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=24|pos=FW|name=[[Alex Valera]]|age={{Birth date and age|1996|5|16|df=y}}|caps=15|goals=3|club=[[Club Universitario de Deportes|Universitario]]|clubnat=PER}}

{{nat fs g player|no=11|pos=FW|name=[[Bryan Reyna]]|age={{Birth date and age|1998|8|23|df=y}}|caps=10|goals=2|club=[[Club Atlético Belgrano|Belgrano]]|clubnat=ARG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=23|pos=FW|name=[[Joao Grimaldo]]|age={{Birth date and age|2003|2|20|df=y}}|caps=6|goals=1|club=[[PSV Eindhoven|PSV]]|clubnat=NED}}

{{nat fs g player|no=18|pos=FW|name=[[Franco Zanelatto]]|age={{Birth date and age|2000|5|9|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=[[Alianza Lima]]|clubnat=PER}}

{{nat fs g player|no=25|pos=FW|name=[[José Rivera (Peruvian footballer)|José Rivera]]|age={{Birth date and age|1997|5|8|df=y}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=[[Club Universitario de Deportes|Universitario]]|clubnat=PER}}

{{nat fs end}}

===Recent call-ups===

The players listed below were not included in the current squad, but have been called up by Peru in the last twelve months.

<!--Organised by position, most recent call-up, caps, goals and last name.-->

{{nat fs r start|background=#e62020}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=GK|name=[[Alejandro Duarte]]|age={{Birth date and age|1994|4|5|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Alajuelense]]|clubnat=CRC|latest=v. {{fb|VEN}}, 21 November 2023}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=GK|name=[[José Carvallo]]|age={{Birth date and age|1986|3|1|df=y}}|caps=8|goals=0|club=[[Universidad César Vallejo]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|JPN}}, 20 June 2023}}

{{nat fs break|background=#87cefa}}

{{nat fs r player|no=5|pos=DF|name=[[Carlos Zambrano (footballer)|Carlos Zambrano]]|age={{Birth date and age|1989|7|10|df=y}}|caps=70|goals=4|club=[[Alianza Lima]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|VEN}}, 21 November 2023}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Rafael Lutiger]]|age={{Birth date and age|2001|7|3|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Sport Boys]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^INJ}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Jhilmar Lora]]|age={{Birth date and age|2000|10|24|df=y}}|caps=8|goals=0|club=[[Sporting Cristal]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Paolo Reyna]]|age={{Birth date and age|2001|10|13|df=y}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=[[Talleres de Córdoba|Atlético Talleres]]|clubnat=ARG|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Leonardo Díaz (Peruvian footballer)|Leonardo Díaz]]|age={{Birth date and age|2004|3|19|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Sporting Cristal]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Marco Huamán]]|age={{Birth date and age|2002|9|25|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Club Alianza Lima|Alianza Lima]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Matías Lazo]]|age={{Birth date and age|2003|7|11|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[FBC Melgar|Melgar]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Emilio Saba]]|age={{Birth date and age|2001|3|26|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Carlos A. Mannucci]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Arón Sánchez]]|age={{Birth date and age|2003|5|4|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Academia Deportiva Cantolao|Academia Cantolao]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Nilson Loyola]]|age={{Birth date and age|1994|10|26|df=y}}|caps=9|goals=0|club=[[Club Deportivo Universidad César Vallejo|Universidad César Vallejo]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|ARG}}, 17 October 2023}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Alonso Yovera]]|age={{Birth date and age|2001|2|11|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Cusco FC|Cusco]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|PAR}}, 7 September 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs break|background=#87cefa}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Pedro Aquino]]|age={{Birth date and age|1995|4|13|df=y}}|caps=36|goals=3|club=[[Santos Laguna]]|clubnat=MEX|latest=v. {{fb|NCA}}, 22 March 2024 ^INJ}}

{{nat fs r player|no=19|pos=MF|name=[[Yoshimar Yotún]]|age={{Birth date and age|1990|4|7|df=y}}|caps=128|goals=8|club=[[Sporting Cristal]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|VEN}}, 21 November 2023 ^INJ}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Renato Tapia]]|age={{Birth date and age|1995|7|28|df=y}}|caps=84|goals=5|club=[[RC Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]]|clubnat=ESP|latest=v. {{fb|VEN}}, 21 November 2023 ^INJ}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Alexis Arias (footballer)|Alexis Arias]]|age={{Birth date and age|1995|12|13|df=y}}|caps=5|goals=0|club=[[FBC Melgar|Melgar]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|VEN}}, 21 November 2023}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Walter Tandazo]]|age={{Birth date and age|2000|6|14|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[FBC Melgar|Melgar]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|VEN}}, 21 November 2023}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Gonzalo Aguirre (footballer)|Gonzalo Aguirre]]|age={{Birth date and age|2003|5|6|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Club Atlético Nueva Chicago|Nueva Chicago]]|clubnat=ARG|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Adrián Ascues]]|age={{Birth date and age|2002|11|15|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Sporting Cristal]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Kenji Cabrera]]|age={{Birth date and age|2003|1|27|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[FBC Melgar|Melgar]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Jefferson Cáceres]]|age={{Birth date and age|2002|8|22|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[FBC Melgar|Melgar]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Sebastián Cavero]]|age={{Birth date and age|2002|6|20|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[FBC Melgar|Melgar]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Christian Neira]]|age={{Birth date and age|2000|11|23|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Unión Comercio]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Christofer Gonzáles]]|age={{Birth date and age|1992|10|12|df=y}}|caps=47|goals=3|club=[[Club Universitario de Deportes|Universitario]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|ARG}}, 17 October 2023}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Jairo Concha]]|age={{Birth date and age|1999|5|27|df=y}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=[[Club Universitario de Deportes|Universitario]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|ARG}}, 17 October 2023}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Jostin Alarcón]]|age={{Birth date and age|2002|7|12|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Sporting Cristal]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|CHI}}, 12 October 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Aldair Fuentes]]|age={{Birth date and age|1998|1|25|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Club Alianza Lima|Alianza Lima]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|CHI}}, 12 October 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Leonardo Villar (footballer)|Leonardo Villar]]|age={{Birth date and age|2000|3|18|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Sport Huancayo]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|CHI}}, 12 October 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Christian Cueva]]|age={{Birth date and age|1991|11|23|df=y}}|caps=98|goals=16|club=[[Al Fateh SC|Al-Fateh]]|clubnat=KSA|latest=v. {{fb|PAR}}, 7 September 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs break|background=#87cefa}}

{{nat fs r player|no=18|pos=FW|name=[[André Carrillo]]|age={{Birth date and age|1991|6|14|df=y}}|caps=97|goals=11|club=[[Al Qadsiah FC|Al-Qadsiah]]|clubnat=KSA|latest=v. {{fb|VEN}}, 21 November 2023 ^INJ}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Santiago Ormeño]]|age={{Birth date and age|1994|2|4|df=y}}|caps=11|goals=0|club=[[Club Puebla|Puebla]]|clubnat=MEX|latest=v. {{fb|VEN}}, 21 November 2023}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Matías Succar]]|age={{Birth date and age|1999|2|16|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Carlos A. Mannucci]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|VEN}}, 21 November 2023}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Jhamir D'Arrigo]]|age={{Birth date and age|1999|11|15|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Club Alianza Lima|Alianza LIma]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Fabrizio Roca]]|age={{Birth date and age|2002|3|20|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Sport Boys]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|BOL}}, 16 November 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Christopher Olivares]]|age={{Birth date and age|1999|4|3|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Club Universitario de Deportes|Universitario]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|CHI}}, 12 October 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Brandon Palacios]]|age={{Birth date and age|1998|3|25|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=[[Sport Boys]]|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{fb|CHI}}, 12 October 2023 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Raúl Ruidíaz]]|age={{Birth date and age|1990|7|25|df=y}}|caps=55|goals=4|club=[[Seattle Sounders FC|Seattle Sounders]]|clubnat=USA|latest=v. {{fb|BRA}}, 12 September 2023}}

{{nat fs break|background=#87cefa}}

^INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to injury/absent from the national team due to injury.<br/>

^PRE Preliminary squad<br>

^SUS Player is serving a suspension<br/>

^WD Player withdrew from the squad<br/>

^RETPlayer has retired from international football.

{{nat fs end|background=#87cefa}}

=== Notable ===

{{main|List of Peru international footballers}}

[[File:Sotil Cubillas Challe 1973.png|thumb|upright|left|alt=Photo of three men, wearing all-white uniforms marked by a red diagonal stripe in their jerseys, inside a stadium filled with spectators|[[Hugo Sotil]], [[Teófilo Cubillas]], and [[Roberto Challe]] ''(left to right)'' at the Estadio Nacional in 1973.]]

A report published by CONMEBOL in 2008 described Peru as traditionally exhibiting an "elegant, technical and fine football style", and praised it as "one of the most loyal exponents of South American football talent".<ref name="CONMEBOL">{{cite web | title=Peruvian Football Federation| publisher=CONMEBOL | url=http://www.conmebol.com/federaciones_pais_index.jsp?pais=per&slangab=E | access-date=29 June 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080801161211/http://www.conmebol.com/federaciones_pais_index.jsp?pais=per&slangab=E |archive-date = 1 August 2008}}</ref> In 2017, Argentine manager Ricardo Gareca described Peruvian footballers as "technically sound, [physically] strong and adaptable", adding that their adaptability resulted from Peru's diverse [[Geography of Peru|geography]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Gareca: I want Peru to boss matches at the World Cup| publisher=FIFA.com| date=11 December 2017| url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=12/news=gareca-i-want-peru-to-boss-matches-at-the-world-cup-2923857.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212042849/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=12/news=gareca-i-want-peru-to-boss-matches-at-the-world-cup-2923857.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=12 December 2017 | access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref>

Peruvian players noted in the CONMEBOL report as "true artists of the ball" include forwards Teófilo Cubillas, [[Pedro Pablo León]] and Hugo Sotil, defender [[Héctor Chumpitaz]] and midfielders [[Roberto Challe]], [[César Cueto]], [[José del Solar]], and [[Roberto Palacios]].<ref name="CONMEBOL"/> Cubillas, an attacking midfielder and forward popularly known as ''El Nene'' ("The Kid"), is widely regarded as Peru's greatest ever player.<ref>See:

* {{harvnb|Witzig|2006|p=156}},

* {{harvnb|Henshaw|1979|p=160}},

* {{harvnb|Dunmore|2011|p=63}}.</ref> Chumpitaz is often cited as the team's best defender; Witzig lists him among his "Best Players of the Modern Era", and praises him as "a strong reader of the game with excellent ball skills and distribution, [who] marshalled a capable defence to support Peru's attack".{{sfn|Witzig|2006|p=149}} ''[[El Gráfico (Argentina)|El Gráfico]]'', an Argentine sports journal, described Cueto, Cubillas, and [[José Velásquez (footballer, born 1952)|José Velásquez]] as, collectively, "the best [midfield] in the world" in 1978.{{sfn|Panfichi|Vich|2005|p=161}}

Before Cubillas' appearance, Teodoro "Lolo" Fernández, a forward nicknamed ''El Cañonero'' ("The Cannoneer"), held the status of Peru's greatest player—due to his powerful shots, marksmanship, and club loyalty to Universitario.<ref>{{cite web | title=The first king of La U and Peru| publisher=FIFA.com| date=17 September 2017| url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2011/m=9/news=the-first-king-and-peru-1511746.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922191446/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2011/m=9/news=the-first-king-and-peru-1511746.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=22 September 2015 | access-date=23 December 2017}}</ref> Fernández participated as a key member of the ''Rodillo Negro'' team of the 1930s, along with Alejandro Villanueva and Juan Valdivieso.{{sfn|Witzig|2006|pp=131, 350, 486}} Fernández scored most of the team's goals; his partner in attack, the gifted playmaker Villanueva, awed audiences with his acrobatic skills. Goalkeeper Valdivieso had a reputation as a [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty]] stopper with exceptional athleticism.{{sfn|Witzig|2006|p=350}}

In 1972, teams representing [[Europe XI|Europe]] and South America played a commemorative match in Basel, Switzerland, for the benefit of homeless children. Cubillas, Chumpitaz, Sotil, and [[Julio Baylón]] played in the South American team, which won the game 2–0; Cubillas scored the first goal.{{sfn|Henshaw|1979|p=143}} The teams held another match the following year, at Barcelona's [[Camp Nou]], with the declared intent of fighting global poverty. Cubillas, Chumpitaz, and Sotil again participated, with Chumpitaz named South America's captain. Each of the Peruvians scored in a 4–4 draw, which South America won 7–6 [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|on penalties]].{{sfn|Henshaw|1979|pp=144–145}}

== Team records ==

{{main|Peru national football team records and statistics}}

The Peru national football team has [[Peru national football team results|played 645 matches]] since 1927, including friendlies.<ref name="RSSSF, ''International Results''" /> The largest margin of victory achieved by a Peru side was a 9–1 win against Ecuador on 11 August 1938, at the Bolivarian Games in Colombia. The team's record defeat was a 7–0 loss to Brazil at the 1997 Copa América in Bolivia.<ref name="RSSSF, ''International Results''" />

{{updated|26 March 2024}}<ref name="RSSSF">{{cite web |last1=Pierrend |first1=José Luis |title=Peru - Record International Players |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/peru-recintlp.html |website=RSSSF}}</ref>

:''Players in '''bold''' are still active with Peru.''

=== Most appearances ===

[[File:Yoshimar Yotún (2015).jpg|175px|right|thumb|[[Yoshimar Yotún]] is Peru's joint-most capped player with 128 appearances.]]

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

! data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-bgimage="" width="30px" style="background:#D72B1F" |<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="color:white;">Rank</span>

! data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-bgimage="" width="150px" style="background:#D72B1F" |<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="color:white;">Player</span>

! data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-bgimage="" width="50px" style="background:#D72B1F" |<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="color:white;">Caps</span>

! data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-bgimage="" width="50px" style="background:#D72B1F" |<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="color:white;">Goals</span>

! data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-bgimage="" width="100px" style="background:#D72B1F" |<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="color:white;">Career</span>

| rowspan="2" |1

| align="left" |[[Roberto Palacios]]

|128

|19

|1992–2012

| align="left" |'''[[Yoshimar Yotún]]'''

|128

|8

|{{nowrap|2011–present}}

|3

| align="left" |'''[[Paolo Guerrero]]'''

|117

|39

|2004–present

|4

| align="left" |'''[[Luis Advíncula]]'''

|116

|2

|2010–present

|5

| align="left" |[[Héctor Chumpitaz]]

|105

|3

|1965–1981

|6

| align="left" |'''[[Pedro Gallese]]'''

|104

|0

|2014–present

|7

| align="left" |[[Jefferson Farfán]]

|102

|27

|2003–2021

|8

| align="left" |[[Jorge Soto (footballer)|Jorge Soto]]

|101

|9

|1992–2005

|9

| align="left" |'''[[Christian Cueva]]'''

|98

|16

|2011–present

| rowspan="2" |10

| align="left" |[[André Carrillo|'''André Carrillo''']]

|97

|11

|2011–present

| align="left" |[[Juan Jayo]]

|97

|1

|1994–2008

The two Peruvian players with the most international [[Cap (sport)|caps]] is [[Roberto Palacios]], and [[Yoshimar Yotún]] who both made 128 appearances for the side from 1992 to 2007 and 2011 to present. The player with the third-most caps is [[Paolo Guerrero]] with 116. The Peruvian goalkeeper with the most appearances is [[Pedro Gallese]] with 103. The goalkeeper with the second-most caps is [[Óscar Ibáñez]] with 50; [[Miguel Miranda]] is third with 47.<ref name="Peru player record" />

=== Top goalscorers ===

[[File:Campeonato Carioca - Flamengo - Guerrero (cropped).jpg|175px|thumb|[[Paolo Guerrero]] is Peru's top scorer with 39 goals.]]

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

! data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-bgimage="" width="30px" style="background:#D72B1F" |<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="color:white;">Rank</span>

! data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-bgimage="" width="150px" style="background:#D72B1F" |<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="color:white;">Player</span>

! data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-bgimage="" width="50px" style="background:#D72B1F" |<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="color:white;">Goals</span>

! data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-bgimage="" width="50px" style="background:#D72B1F" |<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="color:white;">Caps</span>

! data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-bgimage="" width="50px" style="background:#D72B1F" |<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="color:white;">Ratio</span>

! data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor="" data-darkreader-inline-bgimage="" width="100px" style="background:#D72B1F" |<span data-darkreader-inline-color="" style="color:white;">Career</span>

|1

| align="left" |'''[[Paolo Guerrero]]''' ([[List of international goals scored by Paolo Guerrero|list]])

|39

|117

|{{#expr:38/116 round 2}}

|{{nowrap|2004–present}}

|2

| align="left" |[[Teófilo Cubillas]]

|28

|81

|{{#expr:26/81 round 2}}

|1968–1982

|3

| align="left" |[[Jefferson Farfán]]

|27

|102

|{{#expr:27/102 round 2}}

|2003–2021

|4

| align="left" |[[Teodoro Fernández]]

|24

|32

|{{#expr:24/32 round 2}}

|1935–1947

| rowspan="2" |5

| align="left" |[[Claudio Pizarro]]

|20

|85

|{{#expr:20/85 round 2}}

|1999–2016

| align="left" |[[Nolberto Solano]]

|20

|95

|{{#expr:20/95 round 2}}

|1994–2008

|7

| align="left" |[[Roberto Palacios]]

|19

|128

|{{#expr:19/128 round 2}}

|1992–2012

|8

| align="left" |[[Hugo Sotil]]

|18

|62

|{{#expr:18/62 round 2}}

|1970–1978

|9

| align="left" |[[Oswaldo Ramírez]]

|17

|57

|{{#expr:17/57 round 2}}

|1969–1982

| rowspan="2" |10

| align="left" |[[Franco Navarro]]

|16

|56

|{{#expr:16/56 round 2}}

|1980–1989

| align="left" |'''[[Christian Cueva]]'''

|16

|98

|{{#expr:16/98 round 2}}

|2011–present

The team's all-time top goalscorer is Paolo Guerrero, with 39 goals in 117 appearances. He is followed by [[Jefferson Farfán]], with 27 goals in 102 appearances, and [[Teófilo Cubillas]], who scored 28 goals in 81 appearances.<ref name="Peru player record" /> Of the top ten scorers for Peru, [[Teodoro Fernández]], with 24 goals in 32 games, holds the best goal-per-appearance ratio (0.75 goals/match).<ref name="Peru player record" /> [[Claudio Pizarro]] scored Peru's fastest ever goal, coming less than a minute into a match against [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]] on 20 August 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://depor.pe/noticia/651179/cachito-ramirez-anoto-tercer-gol-mas-rapido-seleccion |title='Cachito' anotó el tercer gol más rápido de Perú en los últimos años |work=Depor.pe |date=8 October 2010 |access-date=26 June 2013 |language=es |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221122659/http://depor.pe/noticia/651179/cachito-ramirez-anoto-tercer-gol-mas-rapido-seleccion |archive-date=21 February 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Peru's current [[Captain (association football)|captain]] is forward Paolo Guerrero.<ref>{{cite news | language=es |title=Vuelve el capitán: Paolo Guerrero convocado a la selección peruana |url=https://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/seleccion/paolo-guerrero-convocado-a-la-seleccion-peruana-juan-reynoso-incluyo-al-delantero-en-lista-para-los-amistosos-ante-corea-y-japon-video-noticia/ |work=El Comercio |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| date=2 June 2023| access-date=13 October 2023}}</ref> Midfielder Leopoldo Basurto was the team's first captain.<ref name="Capitanes">{{cite web |url=https://depor.com/futbol-peruano/fiestas-patrias-recuerdas-ultimos-capitanes-seleccion-peruana-sorprenderan-43080?foto=22 |title=Fiestas Patrias: ¿Recuerdas a los últimos capitanes de la Selección Peruana? Algunos te sorprenderán |work=Depor.com |date=8 October 2010 |access-date=28 July 2017 |language=es |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio}}</ref> Defender [[Héctor Chumpitaz]] held the Peruvian team's leadership position for the longest time, between 1965 and 1981.<ref name="Captain">{{cite news | language=es |title=Selección: Paolo Guerrero y los delanteros de Perú| url=https://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/seleccion/seleccion-capitan-guerrero-antecesores-noticia-video-463143 |work=El Comercio |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| date=4 October 2017| access-date=26 November 2017 |last1=Dt |first1=Redacción }}</ref> Forward Claudio Pizarro had the second-longest tenure as captain, from 2003 to 2016.<ref name="Capitanes"/> In 2022, streaming service [[Netflix]] launched "Contigo capitán", a series about Paolo Guerrero's doping ban that almost impeded his participation in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.<ref>{{cite news | language=es |title="Contigo capitán" en Netflix: así le fue a la serie peruana en vistas a nivel internacional |url=https://elcomercio.pe/saltar-intro/netflix/series/contigo-capitan-netflix-revelo-su-top-10-de-la-semana-en-que-lugar-quedo-la-serie-sobre-paolo-guerrero-noticia/ |work=El Comercio |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| date=19 October 2022| access-date=13 October 2023}}</ref> Other notable captains include [[Rubén Toribio Díaz|Rubén Díaz]] (1981–1985), [[Julio César Uribe]] (1987–1989), [[Juan Reynoso Guzmán|Juan Reynoso]] (1993–1999), and [[Nolberto Solano]] (2000–2003).<ref name="Captain"/>

== Competitive records ==

=== FIFA World Cup ===

{{main|Peru at the FIFA World Cup}}

[[File:Perurumania1930.JPG|thumb|alt=An action shot from a football match. A goalkeeper jumps and catches the ball.|Peru's match against Romania at the [[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930 World Cup]].]]

Peru has taken part in the World Cup finals five times. The Peruvian team competed at the first World Cup in 1930 by invitation, and has entered each tournament at the qualifying stage since 1958, qualifying for the finals four times: in 1970, 1978, 1982 and 2018. Its all-time record in World Cup qualifying matches, as of 2017, stands at 43 wins, 37 draws and 69 losses. In the finals, the team has won five matches, drawn three and lost ten, with 21 goals in favour and 33 against.<ref name="RSSSF, ''International Results''">{{cite web | author=José Luis Pierrend |title=Peru International Results| url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/peru-intres.html | date=6 March 2012 | website=[[RSSSF]] | access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref> Peru won the inaugural FIFA Fair Play Trophy, awarded at the 1970 World Cup, having been the only team not to receive any [[Yellow card (sports)|yellow]] or [[Red card (sports)|red cards]] during the competition.<ref name="Fair Play"/> Peru has the peculiar distinction of always facing the tournament's eventual winners during the finals phase.<ref>{{cite web | title=Perú siempre jugó en los Mundiales con el equipo que terminó siendo campeón | work=El Comercio |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| url=http://rpp.pe/futbol/seleccion-peruana/peru-siempre-jugo-en-los-mundiales-con-el-equipo-que-termino-siendo-campeon-noticia-1089461 | language=es |date= 18 November 2017 | access-date=23 November 2017}}</ref>

[[Luis de Souza Ferreira]] scored Peru's first World Cup goal on 14 July 1930, in a match against [[Romania national football team|Romania]].{{sfn|Henshaw|1979|p=789}} [[José Velásquez (footballer, born 1952)|José Velásquez]] scored Peru's fastest World Cup finals goal—that is, that scored soonest after kick-off—two minutes into the match against [[Iran national football team|Iran]] on 11 June 1978.<ref>{{cite web | title=Selección Peruana: planteles, resultados y datos caletas en los mundiales | work=Depor.com |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| url=http://archivo.depor.com/futbol-internacional/seleccion-peruana-planteles-resultados-y-datos-caletas-mundiales-1018213 | language=es |date= 10 June 2014 | access-date=26 November 2017}}</ref> [[Jefferson Farfán]] is Peru's top scorer and fifth-overall top scorer in CONMEBOL World Cup qualification, with 16 goals.<ref>{{cite web | language=es |title=Jefferson Farfán es uno de los goleadores históricos de las Eliminatorias | url=http://rpp.pe/futbol/seleccion-peruana/jefferson-farfan-es-uno-de-los-goleadores-historicos-de-las-eliminatorias-noticia-1089140|work=RPP Noticias |publisher=Grupo RPP| date=16 November 2017| access-date=26 November 2017}}</ref> Teófilo Cubillas is the team's top scorer in the World Cup finals, with 10 goals in 13 games.{{sfn|Witzig|2006|p=156}} During the 1930 competition, a Peruvian became the first player [[Ejection (sports)|sent off]] in a World Cup—his identity is disputed between sources as either defender [[Plácido Galindo]] or midfielder [[Mario de las Casas]].{{efn-ua|FIFA lists the player as Galindo,<ref>{{cite web | title=101 Facts| work=FIFA Magazine| url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fanfest/magazine/magazine06-06p.4en_3358.pdf| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110101218/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fanfest/magazine/magazine06-06p.4en_3358.pdf| url-status=dead| archive-date=10 November 2012| date=June–July 2006|access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref> but forward Souza Ferreira and other sources list De las Casas.<ref>{{cite web | first=Pedro | last=Canelo | title=El primer expulsado en la historia de los mundiales fue peruano | work=El Comercio |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| url=http://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/futbol-mundial/primer-expulsado-historia-mundiales-fue-peruano-noticia-476444 | language=es |date= 11 May 2010 | access-date=19 June 2013}}</ref>}} Peru's [[Ramón Quiroga]] holds the unusual record of being the only goalkeeper to commit a foul in the opponent's side of the pitch in a match at the World Cup finals.{{sfn|Witzig|2006|p=341}}

{{Peru FIFA World Cup record}}

=== Copa América ===

{{main|Peru at the Copa América}}

[[File:Peru Chile Copa America 1975 Oblitas Chalaca Version2.png|thumb|alt=An action shot from a football match. A player scores from a bicycle kick.|Peru's match against Chile at the [[1975 Copa América]].]]

Peru's national team has taken part in 33 editions of the Copa América since 1927, and has won the competition twice (in 1939 and 1975), showing great results, almost always getting past the group stage. The country has hosted the tournament six times (in 1927, 1935, 1939, 1953, 1957 and 2004). Peru's overall record in the competition is 52 victories, 33 draws, and 57 losses.<ref name="RSSSF, ''International Results''" /> Peru won the Fair Play award in the 2015 edition.<ref>{{cite web | language=es |title=Perú obtuvo el premio Fair Play de la Copa América 2015 | url=http://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/copa-america-2015/peru-obtuvo-premio-fair-play-copa-america-2015-noticia-1823560?ref=portada_home&ft=mod_copa_america&e=titulo_1 |work=El Comercio |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| date=4 July 2015| access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref>

[[Demetrio Neyra]] scored Peru's first goal in the competition on 13 November 1927, in a match against Bolivia.<ref name="Pulgar Vidal, ''Hace80''"/> [[Christian Cueva]] scored Peru's fastest Copa América goal, two minutes into the match against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] on 14 June 2015.<ref>{{cite web | title=Selección Peruana: Christian Cueva anotó el gol más rápido de la bicolor en 40 años | work=Depor.com |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| url=http://archivo.depor.com/futbol-peruano/seleccion-peruana-christian-cueva-anoto-gol-mas-rapido-bicolor-40-anos-1045533 | language=es |date= 14 June 2015 | access-date=26 November 2017}}</ref> Four tournaments have featured a Peruvian top scorer—Teodoro Fernández in 1939 and [[Paolo Guerrero]] in 2011, 2015, and 2019.<ref>{{cite news | author=Roberto Mamrud and Karel Stokkermans | title=Copa América 1916–2016 |access-date=7 July 2019| website=[[RSSSF]] | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/sachamp.html |date=6 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | language=es |title=Paolo Guerrero y Everton fueron los máximos goleadores de la Copa América 2019 | url=https://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/paolo-guerrero-everton-maximos-goleadores-copa-america-2019-noticia-653250 |work=El Comercio |publisher=Empresa Editora El Comercio| date=7 July 2019| access-date=7 July 2010}}</ref> Fernández, the Copa América's third-overall scorer, was named best player of the 1939 tournament; Teófilo Cubillas, voted the best player in the 1975 competition, is the only other Peruvian to win this award.<ref>{{cite news | first=Martín | last=Tabeira | title=The Copa América Archive&nbsp;– Trivia |access-date=29 June 2013| website=[[RSSSF]] | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/sachampfulltrivia.html |date=19 July 2007}}</ref>

Peru earned its first continental title in 1939, when it won the South American Championship with successive victories over Ecuador, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. This marked the first time that the competition had been won by a team other than Uruguay, Brazil, or Argentina.{{sfn|Henshaw|1979|pp=648, 652}} Peru became South American champions for the second time in 1975, when it won that year's Copa América, the first to feature all ten CONMEBOL members.{{sfn|Henshaw|1979|p=648}} Peru came top of their group in the first round, eliminating Chile and Bolivia, and in the semi-finals drew with Brazil over two legs, winning 3–1 in Brazil but losing 2–0 at home. Peru was declared the winner by drawing of lots. In the two-legged final between Colombia and Peru, both teams won their respective home games (1–0 in Bogota and 2–0 in Lima), forcing a play-off in [[Caracas]] that Peru won 1–0.{{sfn|Henshaw|1979|pp=656–657}}

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+

!colspan="10"|South American Championship (1916–1967)

!Host

!Position

!{{Abbr|Pld|Games played}}

!{{Abbr|W|Won}}

!{{Abbr|D|Drawn}}

!{{Abbr|L|Lost}}

!{{Abbr|GF|Goals for}}

!{{Abbr|GA|Goals against}}

!Squad

|colspan="2"|[[1916 South American Championship|1916]] to [[1926 South American Championship|1926]]

|colspan="8"|''Did not enter''

|[[1927 South American Championship|1927]]

|style="border:3px solid red" align=left|{{flag|Peru|1825}}

|bgcolor=#c96|Third place

|3

|1

|0

|2

|4

|11

|[[1927 South American Championship squads|Squad]]

|[[1929 South American Championship|1929]]

|align=left|{{flag|Argentina}}

| style="background:#fffacd"|Fourth place

|3

|0

|0

|3

|1

|12

|[[1929 South American Championship squads|Squad]]

|[[1935 South American Championship|1935]]

|style="border:3px solid red" align=left|{{flag|Peru|1825}}

|bgcolor=#c96|Third place

|3

|1

|0

|2

|2

|5

|[[1935 South American Championship squads|Squad]]

|[[1937 South American Championship|1937]]

|align=left|{{flag|Argentina}}

|Sixth place

|5

|1

|1

|3

|7

|10

|[[1937 South American Championship squads|Squad]]

|[[1939 South American Championship|1939]]

|style="border:3px solid red" align=left|{{flag|Peru|1825}}

|bgcolor=gold|'''Champions'''

|4

|4

|0

|0

|13

|4

|[[1939 South American Championship squads|Squad]]

|[[1941 South American Championship|1941]]

|align=left|{{flag|Chile}}

| style="background:#fffacd"|Fourth place

|4

|1

|0

|3

|5

|5

|[[1941 South American Championship squads|Squad]]

|[[1942 South American Championship|1942]]

|align=left|{{flag|Uruguay}}

|Fifth place

|6

|1

|2

|3

|5

|10

|[[1942 South American Championship squads|Squad]]

|colspan="2"|[[1945 South American Championship|1945]] to [[1946 South American Championship|1946]]

| colspan="8" |''Withdrew''

|[[1947 South American Championship|1947]]

|align=left|{{flag|Ecuador|1900}}

|Fifth place

|7

|2

|2