1927 South American Championship: Argentina's Third Continental Triumph
The 1927 South American Championship (Spanish: Campeonato Sudamericano 1927) marked the 11th international association football competition for members of the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL). Hosted by Peru, this historic tournament took place from October 30 to November 27, 1927, bringing together the footballing elite of the region in a battle for continental supremacy.
Beyond the regional title, the 1927 edition held significant stakes as it served as a qualifier for the 1928 Summer Olympics for the first time in the competition's history.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Key Facts
- Champion: Argentina (their 3rd title).
- Host Country: Peru.
- Venue: Estadio Nacional, Lima.
- Participating Teams: Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and Uruguay.
- Olympic Qualification: Argentina and Uruguay qualified for the 1928 Summer Olympics.
- Total Goals: 37 goals scored across 6 matches (average of 6.17 per match).
Historical Background
The roots of the South American Championship trace back to 1910, when the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA) organized the Copa Centenario Revolución de Mayo to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the May Revolution. This precursor event featured Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.
Six years later, the AFA organized another tournament to commemorate the centenary of the Argentine Declaration of Independence. This second event included Brazil alongside the previous three nations, effectively birthing the South American Championship. During this competition, on July 9, 1916, the four associations founded CONMEBOL, the governing body for football in South America.
Entering the 1927 tournament, Uruguay were the defending champions, having won the 1926 edition. They were the most dominant force of the era, having secured six of the first ten titles. However, the 1927 field was smaller than usual, as Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay withdrew before the start of the competition.
Tournament Format and Venue
The competition was organized as a round-robin tournament, a format where every participating team plays every other team exactly once. The champion was determined by the total number of points accumulated throughout the matches.
All matches were hosted at the Estadio Nacional in Lima, Peru, which boasted a capacity of 40,000 spectators.
Tournament Summary
The action kicked off on October 30 with a dominant 7–1 victory for Argentina over Bolivia. The defending champions, Uruguay, began their campaign two days later with a 4–0 win against the hosts, Peru. Uruguay continued their momentum on November 6, delivering a crushing 9–0 defeat to Bolivia, featuring hat-tricks from both Pedro Petrone and Roberto Figueroa.
Peru managed a 3–2 victory over Bolivia on November 13, but the tournament's climax arrived on November 20. In a tightly contested match, Argentina defeated Uruguay 3–2, putting them in a position to claim the title if they could avoid defeat in their final game.
On November 27, Argentina faced Peru in the deciding match. Despite an early setback, Argentina secured a 5–1 victory, claiming their third South American Championship title and ensuring that both they and runners-up Uruguay qualified for the 1928 Summer Olympics.
The tournament saw a high scoring rate, with five players—Alfredo Carricaberry, Roberto Figueroa, Segundo Luna, Pedro Petrone, and Héctor Scarone—sharing the top scorer spot with three goals each.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 | +11 | 6 | 1928 Summer Olympics |
| 2 | Uruguay | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 3 | +12 | 4 | 1928 Summer Olympics |
| 3 | Peru | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 2 | - |
| 4 | Bolivia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 19 | -16 | 0 | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1927 South American Championship?
Argentina won the tournament, marking their third title in the competition's history.
Which teams qualified for the 1928 Summer Olympics through this tournament?
The winners, Argentina, and the runners-up, Uruguay, both qualified for the 1928 Summer Olympics.
Where were the matches played?
All matches took place at the Estadio Nacional in Lima, Peru.
Who were the top scorers of the tournament?
Five players tied for the top scorer position with three goals each: Alfredo Carricaberry, Roberto Figueroa, Segundo Luna, Pedro Petrone, and Héctor Scarone.
Why were there only four teams in the 1927 edition?
Although there were seven CONMEBOL members, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay withdrew prior to the start of the competition.