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Peru national football team (La Blanquirroja)

The Peru national football team represents Peru in international men's football. Known as La Blanquirroja, it has a long history in South American competitions and notable achievements at Copa América and the World Cup.

Author: Leandro Alegsa Creation date: November 13, 2022 Last updated: June 2, 2026

Overview

The Peru national football team is the representative side for the Republic of Peru in international men's association football. Commonly nicknamed La Blanquirroja for its white shirts with a red diagonal sash, the team is organized by the nation's football federation and competes in CONMEBOL tournaments, FIFA World Cup qualifiers and friendly matches. Their home matches are traditionally played in Lima.

Identity and kit

Peru's visual identity centers on a white jersey crossed by a red sash, paired with white shorts and socks—an image that is recognized across South America. The badge and national colors evoke Peruvian national symbols. The team is administered by the Peruvian Football Federation; official information and fixtures are available through the federation's channels such as the team page Peruvian Football Federation.

History and achievements

Peru has a long footballing tradition dating to the early 20th century and has taken part in many regional and global competitions. The squad has enjoyed notable success at the Copa América, winning the continental tournament on more than one occasion, including titles in 1939 and 1975. Peru has also qualified for and competed in multiple FIFA World Cups, producing memorable performances and contributing to the development of football in the region.

Notable players and figures

Across generations, Peru has produced influential players whose technical skill and creativity have been praised internationally. Historic stars and modern leaders alike have served as goal scorers, playmakers and captains, and some have achieved recognition beyond South America. Coaches and sporting directors have also shaped the team's tactical identity and youth development efforts.

Style of play and development

The Peruvian side is often associated with technical ability, fluid passing and an emphasis on attacking combinations. Domestic clubs and the national federation have focused on youth development to nurture dribblers, midfield creators and versatile defenders. Tactical approaches vary by era and coach, but a preference for skillful, possession-oriented football is a recurring theme.

Cultural importance and rivalries

Football holds strong cultural significance in Peru, where national team matches draw passionate support and widespread media attention. Regional rivalries, particularly with neighboring CONMEBOL nations, create intense fixtures that are key moments in the football calendar. The team's achievements at continental tournaments and its representation at World Cups are important sources of national pride.

Common nickname: La Blanquirroja
Primary competition: CONMEBOL/Copa América and FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Notable honors: Copa América titles (including 1939, 1975)

For current squad lists, match schedules and governance details consult official federation resources and recognized sports organizations.

History

Peru participated in five World Cups. Peru delivered a special match at the World Cup in Argentina on 21 June 1978. Peru had entered a second final group with three other teams. After the first two games, Peru had no chance of reaching the third-place game or the final. The Argentines and Brazilians had played to a draw. Brazil had already played their games and Argentina not only had to beat Peru to reach the final, but they had to win big. Peru lost 6-0, and suspicions lingered for a long time that the Argentine military junta had bought the high victory with grain deliveries to the Peruvian state. In the book "We Were World Champions" by Ricardo Gotta, Peruvian national players tell of calls from their head of state, of visits by dictator Jorge Videla and US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to their dressing room. To defender José Velazquez, it seemed "pretty strange, there was pressure." Goalkeeper Ramón Quiroga, an Argentine native, didn't have a good day in the 6-0 loss and later said he was "sure some took something. We saw strange things". Years later, Peruvian senator Genaro Ledesma admitted Argentina had bought the game. In March 2007, former 52-time international Julio César Uribe took over as coach from Francisco Maturana. However, Uribe resigned again in July 2007. His successor was José del Solar. From July 2010 to February 2014, Uruguayan Sergio Markarián was the national coach of Peru. He was followed by his assistant Pablo Bengoechea in March 2014. After Ricardo Gareca took over the national team in 2015, it managed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, its first World Cup appearance in 36 years. At the 2019 Copa America, Peru reached a final of an international tournament for the first time in 44 years. There, they lost 3-1 to Brazil.

International competitions

Peru at the Olympic Games

1900 – 1928	not attended
1936 in Berlin	Quarterfinals

After 1936, the senior national team did not participate in the Olympic Games. The Olympic team only participated in 1960, where they were eliminated in the preliminary round.

Peru at World Championships

→ Main article: Peru national football team/World Cups

Year	Host country	Participation until ...	Last opponent(s)	Result	Trainer	Remarks and special features
1930	Uruguay	Preliminary round	Romania and Uruguay	10.	Francisco Bru
1934	Italy	retracted				Peru did not appear for the qualifying matches against Brazil.
1938	France	not attended
1950	Brazil	retracted				Peru did not show up for the qualifiers, so Uruguay and Paraguay qualified without a fight.
1954	Switzerland	not permitted				Application submitted too late
1958	Sweden	unqualified				Failed to qualify from Brazil
1962	Chile	unqualified				Failed to qualify against Colombia
1966	England	unqualified				Failed to qualify against Uruguay
1970	Mexico	Quarterfinals	Brazil	7.	Valdir Pereira	In the preliminary round, the only match to date was against Germany.
1974	Germany	unqualified				Chile defeated in qualifying after deciding match
1978	Argentina	Intermediate round	Brazil, Poland, Argentina	8.	Marcos Calderon	After the 0:6 against Argentina, accusations of bribery were made by Brazil.
1982	Spain	Preliminary round	Cameroon, Italy, Poland	20.	Tim	Peru's 1:5 against Poland was the only match in this group that did not end in a draw. As a result, Peru was eliminated as the last team in the group.
1986	Mexico	unqualified				Failed to qualify from Argentina
1990	Italy	unqualified				Failed to qualify against Uruguay
1994	USA	unqualified				Failed to qualify against Argentina and Colombia
1998	France	unqualified				In the South American qualifiers, which were held for the first time in a league system between all the South American contenders - except Brazil, who qualified directly as world champions - Peru only finished 5th. The top four qualified.
2002	South Korea/Japan	unqualified				In the South American qualifiers, which were played with all South American teams in the league system, Peru only finished 8th. The top four qualified directly, with Uruguay fifth via the play-offs against Australia.
2006	Germany	unqualified				In the South American qualifiers, which were played in a league system between all South American teams, Peru only finished 9th. The top four qualified directly, while Uruguay, in fifth place, were eliminated by Australia in the play-offs.
2010	South Africa	unqualified				In the South American qualifiers, which were played in a league system between all South American teams, Peru only finished 10th and last. The top four qualified directly, with Uruguay fifth via the play-offs against Costa Rica.
2014	Brazil	unqualified				Peru missed out on qualification with a 3-2 loss to Venezuela on the third last matchday.
2018	Russia	Preliminary round	Denmark, France, Australia		Ricardo Gareca	Eliminated as group third after two losses to Denmark and France and a win against Australia.
2022	Qatar
2026	Canada/Mexico/USA