Peru at the World Cup
Peru were one of the 13 teams in the inaugural World Cup in 1930 where they lost both of their games and finished 10th out of 13 teams. They also made the finals in 1970, 1978, 1982, and again in 2018.
Peru had its best result in Mexico 1970, finishing seventh. Peru became the last to qualify for Russia 2018 when they beat New Zealand 2-0 on aggregate in the play-offs. Peru returned to the World Cup in 2018 after a 36-year absence since they last appeared in 1982.
They failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup after being beaten by Australia in a penalty shootout in the final playoff game.
Trivia
- The first player ever to be sent off in a World Cup match was from Peru, in a match against Romania on 14 July 1930. However the identity of the player is contentious. Various sources list the person as either Plácido Galindo or Mario de las Casas.
- Peruvian goalkeeper Ramon Quiroga was booked inside Poland's half of the field in a finals match on 18 June 1978, when he brought down a Polish player. The keeper habitually came out of his penalty area to 'help' his teammates in defense. Though on this occasion he went even further to the other half of the field and pulled down Polish player Grzegorz Lato with a rugby tackle.
- Peruvian goalkeeper Ramon Quiroga, who was born in Argentina, was accused of deliberately conceding some goals in their 6-0 loss to Argentina in a Second Round group match on 21 June 1978. Argentina had to beat Peru by a margin of at least 4 goals to reach the 1978 Final. Peruvian people could not believe that their goalkeeper would let in six goals in a match. When Quiroga came back home, he published a full letter in the newspapers pleading his innocence and explaining the reasons for Peru's humiliating defeat.
Related Pages
- List of all countries who have participated in the World Cup
- FIFA World Cup Home
- About Sport in Peru
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