With the unconditional support of its fans, the Peruvian football team will make its Lima 2019 Pan American Games debut against Argentina on the first matchday of women's football, Group B.

The match will take place in San Marcos stadium at 20:30. This competition is one of the more than 10 disciplines to take place on the fifth day of the Americas' most important multi-sports event.

The men's modern pentathlon event will be held at the Chorrillos Military School (11:00 – 16:00). Meanwhile, men’s and women’s bowling competitions will be held at the National Sports Village (VIDENA) between 9:00 and 20:00.

MEDAL CEREMONIES

Men’s artistic gymnastics competitions will start at 16:30 in two rounds where the participating teams, among them Peru, will seek qualification for the final. The medal ceremony will start at 23:25.

Men's shooting, in the air pistol event, will start at 9:00 at Las Palmas Air Base Shooting Range, in the district of Surco. The medal ceremony will start at 14:45.

Weightlifting competitions start at noon at Mariscal Cáceres Coliseum in the district of Chorrillos. Two men's and two women's competitions will be held, resulting in the athletes to be awarded in this discipline.

Rugby competitions will be held at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center starting at 9:10, where 16 teams will compete for the medal. The medal ceremony for both women’s and men’s categories will start at 16:45.

MORE COMPETITIONS

Fifteen basketball 3x3 games will take place at Eduardo Dibós Coliseum in San Borja, in both women’s and men’s events. The competitions start at 14:30 with the preliminary match between Brazil and Venezuela, and end at 22:00 with the game between Dominican Republic vs. USA.

Women's and men's water ski events start at 10:00 at Laguna Bujama, in Mala, in the trick and jump disciplines.

Softball will also take place at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center at 10:00, with the following matches: Argentina vs. USA, Cuba vs. Mexico (13:00 – 15:30) and Peru vs. Venezuela (16:00 – 18:30).

Beach volleyball competitions will continue at the Costa Verde San Miguel Sports Center, with 16 women's and men's matches including the quarter-finals, starting at 9:00.

Finally, 10 men's and women's boxing bouts will take place between 14:30 and 21:00 at Miguel Grau Coliseum.

The Pan American Games’ fever is already taking over Peru. More than 300 fans from the Peruvian Football Team’s official supporting club “La Blanquirroja” gathered at the Pan American Village, located in Villa El Salvador, last Thursday evening to cheer on the Peruvian delegation, which has been at the Village since Sunday.

The fans, carrying flags, flares and bass drums, ceaselessly sang the song released at the Russia 2018 World Cup which now symbolizes the fans’ passion, “Cómo no te voy a querer si eres mi Perú querido, mi país bendito que me vio nacer.” (“How couldn't I love you, if you are my lovely Peru, my blessed country where I was born.”)

Peruvian fans are expected to keep supporting their athletes in all sports competitions to take place at the Pan American and Parapan American Games.

Photo Gallery (click here)

Lima will host the largest multi-sports event in the Americas in just three days. You cannot miss it! The Lima 2019 Pan American Games will be a colorful celebration. There are still chances for the best fanbase in the world to get tickets and root for Peruvian athletes. You will also see the continent’s best athletes in action. Some of them will compete to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Football is one of the most anticipated events for Peruvian fans because the U-22 team, made up of the best talents from the Peruvian league, will go for the gold medal under the guidance of Nolberto Solano. Alianza Lima players Kevin Quevedo and Aldair Fuentes, along with Sporting Cristal's Gianfranco Chavez and Jesus Pretel are part of the team that will seek glory in the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos stadium.

Likewise, there are other events that you cannot miss. The best wrestlers, like American world star Kyle Snyder, as well as Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling champion and Cuban legend Mijain Lopez, will compete at Miguel Grau Coliseum in Callao.

You can also watch the current men’s softball champions at the Villa María del Triunfo venue: Argentina. Meanwhile, the biggest stars of Central American and Caribbean baseball will also shine in Southern Lima. Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center will also bear witness to the excellent level of the current Olympic men’s hockey champions, the “Leones” from Argentina.

The Cuba boxing team, consisting of seven world champions and three Olympic champions, will go for the ten gold medals on the ring of Miguel Grau Coliseum. This district will also see the best taekwondo fighters in the whole world compete in the tatami of the Callao Sport Center. Peruvian representatives Marcela Castillo, Hugo del Castillo and Julissa Diez Canseco will go for the gold medal. Let’s go and cheer them up so they can achieve their dream!

Peru also has good chance of winning gold in the squash, shooting and surf events. Diego Elías, the eighth best squash players in the world, is in top form to pick up a gold medal at the VIDENA Volleyball CAR. Meanwhile, ‘Piccolo’ Clemente and nine other surfers will seek glory in Punta Rocas beach. Alessandro de Souza and Nicolás Pacheco will enthusiastically represent the Peruvian shooting team in Las Palmas shooting range.

You can also root for the women’s pair made up by Lisbeth Alca and Alexandra Mendoza, who want to earn a gold medal for Peru in the beach volleyball event. The Peruvian women's volleyball team needs support for the competition against the mighty Dominican Republic, Canada and USA teams, which will also go for the gold at Callao Sports Center.

The best female racquetball player ever will also be at the Callao Regional Sports Center. In addition, the best basketball, swimming, table tennis and karate stars will arrive in Lima to give their best performance in their respective events.

Tickets are still available for other disciplines such as Basque pelota, tennis, weightlifting and handball, with the historic derby Brazil vs. Argentina.

Ticket prices start at PEN 10, with a discount

Ticket prices start at PEN 20 or 10 for the Pan American and Parapan American Games, respectively. There will be 50% off for anyone under the age of 18, senior citizens and people with an impairment.

Fans can buy their tickets at lima2019.pe/tickets. The Lima 2019 Organizing Committee has recently installed a point of sale at Jockey Plaza Shopping Center, in Santiago de Surco. This new point of sale joins the other ten already located in Metro and Wong supermarkets, in the districts of Chorrillos, Independencia, La Molina, Lima, Miraflores, San Borja, San Isidro, San Juan de Miraflores, San Miguel and Surco.

It should be noted that 21 disciplines in the Pan American Games are qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, while 13 Para sports will be qualifiers for the Paralympic Games.

Only 10 days separate the men’s football team from their debut against Uruguay in the Pan American Games. The team, coached by Nolberto Solano,is really excited to play in the stadium of the National University of San Marcos, and make the first step in their journey for the gold.

In a team composed by young athletes, the striker of Ayacucho FC is in charge of scoring goals, but also wants to be an example of generosity in the field, because he is the most experienced player in the team. He waited many years to be called for the national team and now, he is days away from pursuing an unprecedented achievement for Peruvian football.

After working so hard in first division, is this call like a new debut for you?

You could say it is (laughing). I am excited for this opportunity to represent my country. In so many years playing football, I have always tried to look for regularity and in these last seasons, I have had it (with a great score average) and I was given the chance to be part of the Peruvian team.

It is a team with many young impulsive players that will give it all, and you will bring the experience.

I'm ready to give it all too. We are 18 warriors who will give their very best, first to advance to the next stage, and will continue the competition from there. We are really looking forward to the tournament.

Having started training before the other teams gives an advantage?

Planning is always important. We had four short preparation periods (before the Copa America), which helped us play together better. We are going to have an intense preparation to get fully involved in the tournament.

Are you motivated by the possibility that Ricardo Gareca considers you for the senior Peruvian team?

In this team there are many young players who may have a chance later in the other selection processes. In my case, I take it easy. I just have to train hard and perform well in the tournament.

What can we expect about the Peruvian football team at Lima 2019?

The team wants to play great football, controlling the ball, with a strong defense and fast counterattacks. Very similar to how the senior team plays (Nolberto Solano is the technical assistant of Ricardo Gareca). The idea is to keep the identity of Peruvian football.

How do you feel about the Pan American Games?

There is so much expectation. This big competition motivates us. We will share the opening ceremony with other important athletes and as I have seen, it will be great. We know that we will enjoy it.

And add another gold medal to the Peruvian sport record.

That will be amazing. We have a great ambitious team but we need to focus on beating the first three opponents and then we will see to the rest.

Peruvian fans will be with you at the San Marcos Stadium.

Fans’ support of the public will be very important, not only for us but also for all athletes in other disciplines. Cheer for Peru and help us win important awards for our sports.

This is the Peruvian football team calendar:

FOOTBALL AT LIMA 2019

Men’s football competitions at Lima 2019 start on July 29 with matches of Group A: Panama vs. Mexico (10:00)  And Ecuador vs. Argentina (13:00). In the second session, the Group B starts with Jamaica vs. Honduras (17:30) and ends with Peru against the current Pan American champion Uruguay (20:30)

The Pan American Games matches will be governed by the FIFA rules. During the first stage, three points will be awarded per victory and one point per tie. The top two teams of each group advance to semifinals. Ties will be settled with 30 minutes extra-times. If scores are still tied, a penalty shootout will be played.

What can we expect about the Peruvian football team at Lima 2019?

The team wants to play great football, controlling the ball, with a strong defense and fast counterattacks. Very similar to how the senior team plays (Nolberto Solano is the technical assistant of Ricardo Gareca). The idea is to keep the identity of Peruvian football.

How do you feel about the Pan American Games?

There is so much expectation. This big competition motivates us. We will share the opening ceremony with other important athletes and as I have seen, it will be great. We know that we will enjoy it.

And add another gold medal to the Peruvian sport record.

That will be amazing. We have a great ambitious team but we need to focus on beating the first three opponents and then we will see to the rest.

Peruvian fans will be with you at the San Marcos Stadium.

Fans’ support of the public will be very important, not only for us but also for all athletes in other disciplines. Cheer for Peru and help us win important awards for our sports.

This is the Peruvian football team calendar:

FOOTBALL AT LIMA 2019

Men’s football competitions at Lima 2019 start on July 29 with matches of Group A: Panama vs. Mexico (10:00)  And Ecuador vs. Argentina (13:00). In the second session, the Group B starts with Jamaica vs. Honduras (17:30) and ends with Peru against the current Pan American champion Uruguay (20:30)

The Pan American Games matches will be governed by the FIFA rules. During the first stage, three points will be awarded per victory and one point per tie. The top two teams of each group advance to semifinals. Ties will be settled with 30 minutes extra-times. If scores are still tied, a penalty shootout will be played.

Students from the Institución Educativa 7216 Villa de Jesús located in Villa El Salvador participated in the “Soy Lima 2019” campaign with Lima-related slogans and dressed in red and white.

Primary school students started their previously prepared workout routine as part of the 10 minutes of physical activity promoted by the Ministry of Education. Milco, the official mascot of the Games, also attended the activity in which all students participated.

Afterwards, two primary school students performed a Gymnastics exhibition, one of the sports to be held in Villa El Salvador.

Later, a sociocultural activity supporting Olympic and Paralympic values was presented to promote sports.

“It’s important that school-age kids discover values through sports because they should be practiced in daily life,” stated María Escate, schoolteacher.

She also said that “you need to pay attention and concentrate in order to practice any sport and that also improves learning.”

Diego Palacios, Physical Education teacher, said that football, futsal and handball are also practiced at the school. He also mentioned that the Pan American and Parapan American Games will leave an infrastructure legacy but will also help promote sports. “We will be able to watch competitions and talents from other countries thanks to the Games. That will allow us to know more about other sports,” he said.  

It should be noted that karate events will be held at the Villa El Salvador Sports Center; kata will take place on August 9, and kumite on August 10 and 11. Gymnastics events will start with artistic gymnastics from July 27 to 31. Followed by rhythmic gymnastics from August 2 to 5 and trampoline events, which will take place from August 4 to 5.

Photo gallery (click here)