A new challenge awaits the Peruvian team in the qualifying games World Cup 2026 when they take on Chile on matchday three today at 7:00 p.m. (Peruvian time) at the Monumental Stadium in Santiago.
La Blanquirroja comes to this important game after playing to a goalless draw against Paraguay in Asunción and narrowly losing to Brazil in the first two qualifying rounds in Lima.
Currently, the Juan Reynoso-led teams sit seventh in the table with 1 point and will be looking for their first win in qualifying to move into the direct qualifying zone.
Although the national team has shown great defensive strengths, it has an offensive debt that has not allowed it to score goals in this qualifying round.
Paolo Guerrero, who is having a great time with his club, will be responsible for the violation of the Mapochos’ goal. El Predador just qualified for the Copa Sudamericana final with Liga de Quito after scoring two goals in the semi-final against Defensa y Justicia.
Unfortunately, the Peruvian team will suffer two heavy losses in their duel with La Roja Renato Tapia and Alexander Callens were not part of the delegation that traveled to Santiago due to injuries.
“We know that Chile is trying to exploit the local team, as is the case throughout America. We have to adapt to unforeseen events, they have losses, so do we. From what we saw in the first double date, we just hope the course is in good condition,” Reynoso explained in the preview.
Peru will look to end a long losing streak against Chile, who are entering the qualification process. Of the 11 games he played away against La Roja QualifiersThe national team suffered nine defeats and managed only two draws, the last of which came in the 2002 Korea-Japan edition.
On the other hand, the Chilean team is in eighth place and with the same number of points as Blanquirroja, but with a lower goal difference than its classic rival.
So far, the southern team has a record of 1 defeat (3-1 against Uruguay) and 1 draw (0-0 against Colombia) and therefore needs to add three, just like the Peruvian team.
Eduardo Berizzo will have to replace the loss of Arturo Vidal, who was injured in the game against the Coffee Farmers, and the player chosen to replace the Athletico Paranaense midfielder would be Rodrigo Echeverría, a member of Huracán.
“We have to be simple and quickly find the attacking line with Alexis (Sánchez) or Ben (Brereton). We are working on contributing to Erick (Pulgar) and giving him a passing line that will make his job easier. Then give the possibility of a forward pass and reach the goal,” said Echeverría, one of the surprises that would send Berizzo onto the field.
The last time Peru and Chile faced each other was on October 7, 2021 at the National Stadium in Lima in the Qatar 2022 qualifiers, a duel in which the national team brought joy to the Peruvian fans.
On that day, Blanquirroja emerged victorious with 2-0 points Christian Cueva and Sergio Pena. After more than two years, both teams will meet again in a new and long-awaited edition of the Pacific Classic.
Berizzo doesn’t beat Peru as a coach
For today’s game between Peru and Chile, Eduardo Berizzo, current coach of the southern team, has to fight a curse against Blanquirroja. As a coach, Toto faced the national team three times (once in qualifying, once in the Copa América and once in a friendly match), each time as a strategist for the Paraguayan team, recording two draws and one defeat. Oliver Sonne will sit on the bench and wait for his opportunity to play more minutes for the Peruvian team.