Chile national under-20 football team, also known as Chile Sub-20 or La Rojita, is part of the Federación de Fútbol de Chile. The U-20 team is considered to be the breeding ground for future Chile national football team players. The Chile U-20 national team has participated in seven U-20 World Cups Chile 1987, Qatar 1995, Argentina 2001, Netherlands 2005, Canada 2007, Turkey 2013, and Chile 2025.
One of the best and earliest U-20 World Cup campaigns was when Chile hosted the tournament in 1987, finishing in fourth place. In the most recent 2007 U-20 World Cup the team earned a third-place position, making it Chile's most successful U-20 campaign to date.
The Chile national U-20 football team also participates in the South American Youth Championship which act as qualifier for the U-20 World Cup.
Chile National U-20 Football Team: World Cups
U-20 World Cup: Chile 1987 The first World Cup the U-20 national team gained entry came in 1987 when Chile was granted the right to host. Chile headed Group A which included Australia, Togo, and Yugoslavia. October 10, 1987 Chile faced eventual tournament winners Yugoslavia in Santiago in the presence of a crowd totaling 67,000 spectators. All of Chile's early group matches were held in Santiago at the Estadio Nacional. Chile lost the opening game by a score of 2–4, with Lukas Tudor and Camilo Pino scoring for the squad.
Chile won their second match against Togo by a score of 3–0, with Pino scoring through a penalty kick in the '8 minute of the match. Tudor scored the remaining two goals in the 32nd and 75th minute of the match.
The next game against Australia was staged in front of 75,000 people. Chile using the advantage of having support from its crowd, defeated Australia 2–0 with both goals coming from Pino in the 22nd and 52nd minutes of the match.
Chile advanced to the Quarter-Finals in second place, and later played Italy in the city of Concepción, Chile. Chile's margin of victory came with the minimum difference of a 1–0 score. The result in effect would lead ti a face-off against West Germany in the Semi-Finals. The match featured West Germany ultimately winning 4–0. The third place spot was to be played against East Germany where Chile fell on penalty kicks 3–1 after a game that had both sides drawn 1–1.FIFA.com - Chile 1987: Yugoslavian fireworks
DateVenueOpponentsResultScoreOctober 10, 1987Santiago, ChileL 2 - 4October 13, 1987Santiago, ChileW 3 - 0October 17, 1987Santiago, ChileW 2 - 0October 21, 1987Concepción, ChileW 1 - 0October 23, 1987Concepción, ChileL 0 - 4October 25, 1987Santiago, ChileD 1(1) - 1(3)
U-20 World Cup: Netherlands 2005 June 11, 2005, Chile faced CONCACAF opponents Honduras at the De Vijverberg stadium in Doetinchem, Netherlands, in what was to be the first match pertaining to group C. Massimo Busacca from Switzerland was the referee of the match. Chile, in front of 6,800 spectators, opened the scoring in the first-half with goals from forward Parada in the 11th minute and midfielder José Pedro Fuenzalida in the 30th minute. The scoring momentum continued onto the second-half, where Fuenzalida added another goal onto his personal tally in the 53rd minute, while Matías Fernández followed with a goal of his own in the 67th. Two minutes later, in the 69th, Gonzalo Jara would also score which was followed by another strike from Parada in the 71st. Pedro Morales concluded with the last goal of the day in the 77th minute, making the final score 7–0, an impressive start for "La Rojita".FIFA.com - Chile in seventh heaven after Honduran romp (7:0)
Four days later, on June 15, 2005, Chile experienced a crushing blow against Spain. The match was again held at De Vijverberg, and the referee in charge was Benito Archundia from Mexico. An estimate of 6,600 spectators were in attendance with Spaniard Fernando Llorente scoring four goals. Chile, playing with ten men witnessed, fell 0–7, bringing their goal differential to zero.FIFA.com - Spain reign supreme against chastened Chile (7:0)
On June 17, 2005, at Galgenwaard Stadion in Utrecht (city), Chile competed against Morocco amid a crowd of 11,000. The referee was Australian Mark Shield. The only goal was scored by Moroccan forward Tarik Bendamou in the 47th minute.FIFA.com - Morocco through after Chilean bombardment (1:0)
A total of three points was enough for Chile to qualify in a best third place spot for the second round and on June 22, 2005, Chile played hosts Netherlands at De Vijverberg stadium. Dutch forwards Ryan Babel, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Collins John would each score for the Dutch in a game finishing 3–0, thus eliminating Chile from the World Cup.FIFA.com - Dutch down Chile to Doetinchem delight (3:0)
DateVenueOpponentsResultScoreJune 11, 2005Doetinchem, NetherlandsW 7 - 0June 15, 2005Doetinchem, NetherlandsL 0 - 7June 17, 2005Utrecht, NetherlandsL 0 - 1June 22, 2005Doetinchem, NetherlandsL 0 - 3
U-20 World Cup: Canada 2007 Canada 2007 was Chile's fifth overall participation in the U-20 world youth championship. Chile opened Group A against the host nation of Canada in Toronto, with Chile winning 3–0. The game featured a Chilean side with adequate possession of the ball and attentive striking from forwards Medina, team captain Carlos Carmona, and late game substitute Jaime Grondona.FIFA.com - Spicy Chile sink Canucks
The second match was against the African youth champions the Republic of Congo in Edmonton. Chile soundly defeated a ten-man squad with a score of 3–0, goals coming from striker Alexis Sánchez, Nicolás Medina and Arturo Vidal.FIFA.com - Chile through as Congo succumb
The third game was against Austria where after 90 minutes the game ended in scoreless 0–0, the result was enough for Chile to clinch the first spot of the group.FIFA.com - Austria and Chile draw through In the second round, Chile went up against Portugal, who had qualified as third of their group. Chile with a goal from Vidal in the 45th minute of first half secured a pass onto the quarter-final.FIFA.com - Vidal off after sinking Portugal
The quarter-final included Nigeria, where after a scoreless 90 minutes the game was to be decided in extra time. Within the next final 30 minutes of the match, Chile would win 4–0 with finishes coming off a header from Jaime Grondona, a penalty kick by Mauricio Isla after Chilean player Mathías Vidangossy was brought down in the box, a deadly counter strike finish from Isla in the 117th minute and a late finish from Vidangossy after rounding the goalkeeper in injury time.FIFA.com - Four-star Chile leave it late
The semi-final against Argentina proved controversial where referee Wolfgang Stark would send off two Chilean players, Dagoberto Currimilla and Gary Medel. Playing with nine men proved drastic, as Chile would go on to lose 3–0.
Hans MartínezFIFA.com - Chile grab bronze
Goalkeeper Christopher Toselli set a record after going 492 minutes without conceding a goal, breaking the old record of 484 minutes held by under-20 Brazilian goalkeeper Cláudio Taffarel since the 1985 World Cup.Argentina advances to FIFA U-20 final - FIFA U-20 - Sports - CBC.caEl arquero chileno Toselli bate record de tiempo invicto en Mundiales Sub-20 | terra
Alexis Sánchez, Mathías Vidangossy, Arturo Vidal, Cristián Suárez and Christopher Toselli all listed as candidates for top player of the tournament.FIFA reveals nominees for MVP award
DateVenueOpponentsResultScoreJuly 1, 2007Toronto, CanadaW 3 - 0July 5, 2007Edmonton, CanadaW 3 - 0July 8, 2007Toronto, CanadaD 0 - 0July 12, 2007Edmonton, CanadaW 1 - 0July 15, 2007Montreal, CanadaW 4 - 0July 19, 2007Toronto, CanadaL 0 - 3July 22, 2007Toronto, CanadaW 1 - 0
U-20 World Cup: Turkey 2013
Turkey 2013 marks the sixth time the Chilean U-20 team has participated in the U-20 world youth championship. The Chilean team ended the first stage of the championship in second position with 4 points, with a victory against Egypt (2-1), a draw against England (1-1), and a final defeat against Iraq (1-2). Despite the mixed results, the team advanced to the knockout stages, defeating Croatia (2-1).
DateVenueOpponentsResultScoreJune 23, 2013Antalya, TurkeyW 2 - 1June 26, 2013Antalya, TurkeyD 1 - 1June 29, 2013Antalya, TurkeyL 1 - 2July 3, 2013Bursa, TurkeyW 2 - 0July 7, 2013Istanbul, TurkeyL 3- - 4
U-20 World Cup: Chile 2025
Chile 2025 will mark the seventh time the Chilean U-20 team has participated in the U-20 world youth championship. It will also mark second time Chile has hosted it having do it in 1987.
Competitive record YearRoundGPWD LGSGA 1977 Did not qualify 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987Fourth place631299 1989 Did not qualify 1991 1993 1995Round 1302169 1997 Did not qualify 1999 2001Round 1310248 2003 Did not qualify 2005Second round4103711 2007Third place7511123 2009 Did not qualify 2011 2013Quarterfinals521298 2015 Did not qualify 2017 2019 2023 2025Round of 16 410349 2027 To be determinedTotal7/2532135145157
Honours
FIFA U-20 World Cup Third place (1): 2007 Fourth place (1): 1987
List of FIFA U-20 World Cup matches FIFA World Youth Championship U20 HistoryYearRoundScoreResult1987Round 1 Chile 2 – 4 LoseRound 1 Chile 3 – 0 WinRound 1 Chile 2 – 0 WinQuarterfinals Chile 1 – 0 WinSemifinals Chile 0 – 4 Lose3rd Place Chile 1 – 1 (pen 1-3) Draw1995Round 1 Chile 2 – 2 DrawRound 1 Chile 1 – 1 DrawRound 1 Chile 3 – 6 Lose2001Round 1 Chile 2 – 4 LoseRound 1 Chile 1 – 4 LoseRound 1 Chile 1 – 0 Win2005Round 1 Chile 7 – 0 WinRound 1 Chile 0 – 7 LoseRound 1 Chile 0 – 1 LoseRound of 16 Chile 0 – 3 Lose2007Round 1 3 – 0 WinRound 1 3 – 0 WinRound 1 0 – 0 DrawRound of 16 1 – 0 WinQuarterfinals 4 – 0 WinSemifinals 0 – 3 Lose 3rd Place 1 – 0 Win2013Round 1 Chile 2 – 1 WinRound 1 Chile 1 – 1 DrawRound 1 Chile 1 – 2 LoseRound of 16 Chile 2 – 0 WinQuarterfinals Chile 3 – 4 Lose2025Round 1 Chile 2 – 1 WinRound 1 Chile 0 – 2 LoseRound 1 Chile 1 – 2 LoseRound of 16 Chile 1 – 4 Lose
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up to the squad for the 2026 South American Games.
Former squads
1987 FIFA World Youth Championship
Coach: Luis Ibarra # NamePosDOBClub1Guillermo VelascoGK02.06.1968Santiago Wanderers 2DF21.02.1969Deportes Puerto Montt 3Carlos RamírezDF26.02.1968Huachipato 4DF03.06.1968Cobreandino 5Javier MargasDF10.05.1969Colo-Colo 6Luis MusrriMF24.12.1969Universidad de Chile 7Raimundo TupperFW07.01.1969Universidad Católica 8MF16.11.1968Huachipato 9Lukas TudorFW21.02.1969Universidad Católica 10Fabián EstayMF05.10.1968Universidad Católica 11Pedro GonzálezFW17.10.1967Deportes Valdivia 12GK21.04.1968Provincial Osorno 13Miguel LatínDF27.07.1968Santiago Wanderers 14Juan CarreñoFW16.11.1968Colo-Colo 15Reinaldo HoffmannDF18.03.1968Colo-Colo 16Héctor CabelloMF14.01.1968Deportes La Serena 17Camilo PinoMF04.03.1968Cobreloa 18Juan ReyesFW31.08.1967O'Higgins
1995 FIFA World Youth Championship
Coach: Leonardo Véliz # NamePosDOBClub1Carlos ToroGK02.04.1976Santiago Wanderers 2Francisco FernándezDF19.08.1975Colo-Colo 3Mauricio DonosoMF30.04.1976Cobreloa 4Nelson GarridoDF02.12.1977Universidad Católica 5Jorge VargasDF08.02.1976Universidad Católica 6Dion ValleDF22.07.1977Colo-Colo 7Rodrigo ValenzuelaFW27.11.1975Unión Española 8Carlos BarrazaMF12.03.1976Universidad Católica 9Alejandro OsorioMF24.09.1976Universidad Católica 10Frank LobosMF25.09.1976Colo-Colo 11Sebastián RozentalFW01.09.1976Universidad Católica 12Ariel SalasGK19.10.1976Colo-Colo 13Héctor TapiaFW30.09.1977Colo-Colo 14Cristián UribeMF01.08.1976Huachipato 15Fernando MartelMF02.10.1975Unión San Felipe 16Mauricio ArosDF09.03.1976Deportes Concepción 17Juan Carlos MadridFW20.10.1975Universidad Católica 18Dante PoliDF15.08.1976Universidad Católica
2001 FIFA World Youth Championship
Coach: Hector Pinto