Peru may play in High Altitude during World Cup Qualifications

Peru football officials are considering the idea of moving their World Cup qualifying matches from sea level at Lima to Cuzco, which is a mere 3,300 meters (10,000 feet) above sea level. The change in locale would be made in an effort to improve their country’s chances for qualifying for the tournament, something it has not done since 1982.

Said Juvenal Silva, head of the Peruvian federation’s national team committee:

‘I’ve watched for 20 years as the other teams have come and walked over us in Lima,’ he told El Comercio in an interview.

‘If the altitude of Cuzco helps us get better results, we should use it.’

‘I don’t want to comment any further because some teams, such as Brazil and Argentina, could put on pressure to avoid this.’

Silva also mentioned the possibility of forming a team of domestic-based players for the high altitude home matches, while also fielding a foreign-based team for away matches.

This is an interesting idea at that, but thin air is no substitute for talented players. Certainly Ecuador and Bolivia have benefited in the past from playing at high altitude, but both have had to perform on the road as well to qualify for the big dance.

South American qualifiers start in September.