Santiago
Ricardo Gareca, is hoping that today’s (Friday) FIFA World Cup qualifier against Peru will signal a “fresh start” for his struggling team. Currently sitting at the bottom of the 10-team South American qualifying group, Chile desperately needs a win at Lima’s Estadio Monumental to revive their hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
“This is an important time, and we need to start winning,” Gareca told reporters on Wednesday night. “I know what we’re playing for, we all know it. Yes, we have to get results, we’re in a very complicated situation, and so is Peru.”
Chile has earned just five points from 10 qualifiers and trails Peru, in ninth place, by a single point. The upcoming match will be Gareca’s first visit to Lima since he ended his seven-year stint as Peru’s national coach in July 2022.
The match will also see the return of midfielder Arturo Vidal to Chile’s squad after a 14-month absence. Gareca expressed confidence in Vidal’s return, saying, “We believe it is a good moment for him to come back given everything that has happened.” Despite Vidal’s earlier harsh criticism of Gareca on social media, the two have since reconciled, agreeing that the national team comes first.
The top six teams in the South American group will secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, with the seventh-ranked team heading to an intercontinental playoff.
