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Chile and Venezuela: A History of International Football Matches

The Beginning of a Rivalry

The first international football match between Chile and Venezuela took place on 28 October 1952, in Caracas. The match was played as part of the Bolivarian Games, and Venezuela won 3-2. The two countries would meet again in the Bolivarian Games in 1954, where Chile won 2-1. The rivalry between the two countries began to intensify in the 1970s, when they began to compete for places in the World Cup.

Close Encounters in the 1970s

In the 1974 World Cup qualifiers, Chile and Venezuela were drawn into the same group. Chile won 2-0 in the first match, but Venezuela won 3-1 in the second match. The two teams finished level on points, but Chile qualified for the World Cup thanks to a better goal difference. In the 1978 World Cup qualifiers, the two teams were again drawn into the same group. Chile won both matches, 4-1 and 2-0, to qualify for the World Cup.

Venezuela's Breakthrough

In the 1994 World Cup qualifiers, Venezuela finally managed to beat Chile, winning 2-1 in Caracas. However, Chile won the second match 3-0, and qualified for the World Cup. Venezuela would not qualify for the World Cup until 2007.

Chile's Dominance in Recent Years

In recent years, Chile has dominated the rivalry with Venezuela. In the 2011 Copa America, Chile won 2-1. In the 2015 Copa America, Chile won 3-1. In the 2017 World Cup qualifiers, Chile won both matches, 4-1 and 3-0. In the 2019 Copa America, Chile won 2-0.

Overall Record

In the 28 matches between the two countries, Chile has won 16, Venezuela has won 7, and 5 matches have been drawn. Chile has scored 55 goals, and Venezuela has scored 36 goals.

Conclusion

The rivalry between Chile and Venezuela is one of the most intense in South American football. The two countries have met in some memorable matches over the years, and the rivalry shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.