The night Uruguay vs. Peru confirmed the sky-blue qualification
The Uruguayan national team, tactically coached by Marcelo Bielsa, defeated Peru 3-0 at the Centenario Stadium, securing their place in the 2026 World Cup with one matchday remaining. With that victory, the Celeste team reached 27 points and secured the necessary advantage to avoid relying on other results.
For Peru, the outcome was definitive: they were eliminated after remaining on 12 points and no longer able to reach the playoff zone, thus mathematically ending their hopes of qualifying.
Uruguay's first threat came after a pressing attack left Giorgian De Arrascaeta with space at the edge of the box; his shot, after Brian Rodríguez recovered, went just wide and warned of the home side's offensive plan.
The opening goal came before the quarter-hour mark: a good piece of movement down the left ended with Guillermo Varela sending a cross into the box and Rodrigo Aguirre finishing with a precise header to make it 1-0 in Montevideo.
From Arrascaeta, figure in the decisive night
Giorgian De Arrascaeta once again showed his influence on Uruguay's offense: he participated in the build-up and had a shot off the post ten minutes from time in the first half that could have extended the lead. He was a key player again in the second half, scoring a key goal that confirmed Uruguay's control of the match.
His goal, in the 57th minute, came after a cross to the far post from Varela, a move by Aguirre to bring the ball down, and a shot from De Arrascaeta that left the opposing goalkeeper unable to react.
Rodrigo Aguirre opened the scoring and contributed to the definition
Rodrigo Aguirre was lethal in the air, and that early header shaped the outcome of the match. His participation wasn't limited to the first goal: he brought the ball down for the second goal and was instrumental in the attacking maneuvers that wore down the Peruvian defense.
The connection between Varela, Aguirre, and De Arrascaeta served as a creative axis for Uruguay to control the result and seek to close out the match with more space in the opponent's half.
2026 Qualifiers: Peru tried but couldn't change history.
Peru created isolated chances that challenged Sergio Rochet, such as a shot by Yoshimar Yotún in the 40th minute that the goalkeeper saved well for a corner. In the second half, Marcos López's header after a cross from Luis Advíncula sailed over the crossbar, confirming the Incas' lack of decisiveness.
Óscar Ibáñez's team needed intensity and goals, but Uruguay's defensive solidity and efficiency prevented a credible comeback to turn the game around.
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With ten minutes left, Federico Viñas, who had come on minutes earlier, sealed the scoring with a flick in the box to make it 3-0 and spark joy at the Centenario stadium. With a point lead and 27 points, Uruguay has its own destiny in the final matchday to secure its World Cup spot.
The final qualifying round sees Uruguay visit Chile, while Peru will bid farewell at home to Paraguay; the math favors Bielsa and his team, who now aim to secure their final qualification.
