In the last decade, Chile has learned to grow as a national team in CONMEBOL. That is why its no coincidence when they won the Copa America trophy twice. Especially when there’s players like Alexis Sanchez, Claudio Bravo, and Arturo Vidal, who had their prime moments for both club and national team almost at the same time. However, as the transition to a new generation is coming, La Roja have failed to qualify for the World Cup tournament for the second time in a row.
In fact, Chile has won just once in their last9 games between qualifiers and friendly matchups. The harshreality of their situationcomes after a huge4-year success history, where the 2014 World Cup started a high-profile phase for Chile, which ended up with their two consecutive Copa America trophy wins in 2015, and 2016. As well as a runners-up place in the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia, previously to the World Cup.
Theircurrent quest for the 2026World Cupwill bethe closing phase of that golden generation, whichpossibly endsbefore the next qualifiers start. Under Eduardo Berizzo’s management, Chile will try to end their 16-year drought for World Cup action.
Why did Peru not qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?
After not being able to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Chile had a new mission in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers, to avoid at any cost. Missing another worldfootball championshipwasn’t evena possible outcome after the competition. However, through thenew journey, La Roja hadthree different coaches, which eventually ended with their elimination.
Chile finishedasthe 7th place at the CONMEBOL standings for the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers. Despite Chile finished two places below the reclassification spot, Chile hadclear chances to qualify directly for the World Cup until the last game of the qualifiers.
In the last matchday of theCONMEBOL Qualifiers, Chile had to win overUruguay, and hope that Peru don’t win overParaguay. However, La Roja lost to Uruguay, and Peru won over Paraguay, and they qualified to the play-off round against New Zealand.
