The Copa América is South America's major tournament in senior men's football and determines the continental champion. Until 1967, the tournament was known as South American Championship. It is the oldest continental championship in the world.
Chile are one of the four national teams that participated in the inaugural South American Championship in 1916. During their first six participations, they always ranked last, until they recorded their first match wins in 1926.
It took 99 years for them to win their first continental title, which they defended at the Copa América Centenario in 2016.
Chile won both the 2015 and 2016 final against Argentina on penalties, even though they have never defeated the Albiceleste over regular time in tournament history (30 attempts).
Overall record
South American Championship / Copa América recordYearRoundPositionSquad 1916Fourth place4th3012211Squad 1917Fourth place4th3003010Squad 1919Fourth place4th3003112Squad 1920Fourth place4th301224Squad 1921Withdrew 1922Fifth place5th4013110Squad 1923Withdrew 1924Fourth place4th3003110Squad 1925Withdrew 1926Third place3rd4211146Squad 1927Withdrew 1929Did not participate 1935Fourth place4th300327Squad 1937Fifth place5th51131213Squad 1939Fourth place4th4103812Squad 1941Third place3rd420263Squad 1942Sixth place6th6114415Squad 1945Third place3rd6411155Squad 1946Fifth place5th5203811Squad 1947Fourth place4th74121413Squad 1949Fifth place5th72141014Squad 1953Fourth place4th63121010Squad 1955Runners-up2nd5311198Squad 1956Runners-up2nd5302118Squad 1957Sixth place6th6114917Squad 1959Fifth place5th6213914Squad 1959Did not participate 1963 1967Third place3rd522186Squad1975Group stage6th411276Squad1979Runners-up2nd9432136Squad1983Group stage5th421182Squad 1987Runners-up2nd430193Squad 1989Group stage5th420275Squad 1991Third place3rd7322116Squad 1993Group stage9th310234Squad 1995Group stage11th301238Squad 1997Group stage11th300315Squad 1999Fourth place4th621387Squad 2001Quarter-finals7th420255Squad 2004Group stage10th301224Squad 2007Quarter-finals8th4112411Squad 2011Quarter-finals5th421154Squad 2015Champions1st6420134Squad 2016Champions1st6411165Squad 2019Fourth place4th621377Squad 2021Quarter-finals7th512235Squad 2024Group stage12th302101SquadTotal2 Titles41/48191673589291317—
Winning tournaments
2015 Copa América
Matches
RoundOpponentScoreResultScorersVenueGroup stage2–0WA. Vidal, E. VargasSantiago3–3DA. Vidal (2), E. Vargas5–0WC. Aránguiz (2), A. Sánchez, G. Medel, R. Raldes (o.g.)Quarter-finals1–0WM. IslaSemi-finals2–1WE. Vargas (2)Final0–0W
Final
GK 1 Claudio Bravo (c)CB 5 Francisco Silva CB 21Marcelo Díaz CB 17Gary Medel RM 4 Mauricio IslaCM 20Charles Aránguiz CM 8 Arturo VidalLM 15Jean BeausejourAM 10Jorge Valdivia CF 11Eduardo Vargas CF 7 Alexis SánchezSubstitutes:MF 14Matías Fernández FW 22Ángelo Henríquez Manager: Jorge Sampaoli GK 1 Sergio RomeroRB 4 Pablo ZabaletaCB 15Martín DemichelisCB 17Nicolás OtamendiLB 16Marcos Rojo RM 6 Lucas BigliaCM 14Javier Mascherano LM 21Javier Pastore RW 10Lionel Messi (c)CF 11Sergio Agüero LW 7 Ángel Di María Substitutes:FW 22Ezequiel Lavezzi FW 9 Gonzalo Higuaín MF 19Éver Banega Manager:Gerardo Martino
Man of the Match: Arturo Vidal (Chile)
2016 Copa América Centenario
Matches
RoundOpponentScoreResultScorersVenueGroup stage1–2LJ. FuenzalidaSanta Clara2–1WA. Vidal (2)Foxboro4–2WE. Vargas (2), A. Sánchez (2)PhiladelphiaQuarter-finals7–0WE. Vargas (4), E. Puch (2), A. SánchezSanta ClaraSemi-finals2–0WC. Aránguiz, J. FuenzalidaChicagoFinal0–0WEast Rutherford
Final
Since the implementation of the new FIFA ruling that a fourth substitute would be allowed in overtime, the Copa América Centenario final was the first match this rule applied to. However, neither team used a fourth substitute.
GK 1 Sergio RomeroRB 4 Gabriel MercadoCB 17Nicolás OtamendiCB 13Ramiro Funes MoriLB 16Marcos Rojo CM 6 Lucas BigliaCM 14Javier Mascherano CM 19Éver Banega RF 10Lionel Messi (c) CF 9 Gonzalo Higuaín LF 7 Ángel Di María Substitutions:MF 5 Matías Kranevitter FW 11Sergio Agüero MF 18Erik Lamela Manager:Gerardo Martino GK 1 Claudio Bravo (c)RB 4 Mauricio IslaCB 17Gary MedelCB 18Gonzalo JaraLB 15Jean Beausejour CM 8 Arturo Vidal CM 21Marcelo Díaz CM 20Charles Aránguiz RW 6 José Pedro Fuenzalida LW 7 Alexis Sánchez CF 11Eduardo Vargas Substitutions:FW 22Edson Puch MF 5 Francisco Silva FW 16Nicolás Castillo Manager: Juan Antonio Pizzi
Man of the Match: Claudio Bravo (Chile)
Record by opponent Chile's biggest victories at Copa América tournaments were a 7–0 win against Venezuela in 1979, and a 7–0 win against Mexico in 2016.
Their biggest defeats were 0–6 losses, one against Brazil in 1919 and one against Uruguay in 1947.
Copa América matches (by team)Opponent082230156211221549173217222561010100732122011001112131115471510014022371391001427213223138877222731001112751931296372110254Total673589191291317
Record players
RankPlayerMatchesTournaments1Sergio Livingstone341941, 1942, 1945, 1947, 1949 and 19532Claudio Bravo272004, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2021 and 2024Mauricio Isla272011, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024Gary Medel272011, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 20215Alexis Sánchez262011, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024Eduardo Vargas262015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 20247Arturo Vidal242011, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 20218Charles Aránguiz232015, 2016, 2019 and 20219Manuel Álvarez201947, 1949, 1953, 1955 and 195610Gonzalo Jara192007, 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2019
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerGoalsTournaments (goals)1Eduardo Vargas142015 (4), 2016 (6), 2019 (2) and 2021 (2)2Enrique Hormazábal101955 (6) and 1956 (4)3Raúl Toro91937 (7), 1939 (1) and 1941 (1)4David Arellano81924 (1) and 1926 (7)Iván Zamorano81991 (5) and 1999 (3)6Francisco Molina71953Alexis Sánchez72011 (1), 2015 (1), 2016 (3) and 2019 (2)Arturo Vidal72011 (1), 2015 (3), 2016 (2) and 2019 (1)9Juan Alcántara61945 (5) and 1946 (1)Jaime Ramírez61955 (1), 1956 (2) and 1957 (3)
Players with multiple titles
Fifteen players were part of both the 2015 and 2016 Copa América squads, winning consecutive titles. Johnny Herrera as reserve goalkeeper was a non-playing squad member in both tournaments.
PlayerChampionshipsPlayerChampionshipsCharles Aránguiz2Gary Medel2Jean BeausejourEugenio MenaClaudio BravoMauricio PinillaMarcelo DíazAlexis SánchezJosé Pedro FuenzalidaFrancisco SilvaJohnny HerreraEduardo VargasMauricio IslaArturo VidalGonzalo Jara
Awards and records
Team Awards Champions: 2 (2015 and 2016) Runners-up: 4 (1955, 1956, 1979 and 1987) Third place: 5 (1926, 1941, 1945, 1967 and 1991)
Individual Awards MVP 1941: Sergio Livingstone MVP 1955: Enrique Hormazábal MVP 1979: Carlos Caszely MVP 2016: Alexis Sánchez Top scorer 1926: David Arellano (7 goals) Top scorer 1937: Raúl Toro (7 goals) Top scorer 1953: Francisco Molina (7 goals) Top scorer 1956: Enrique Hormazábal (4 goals) Top scorer 1979: Jorge Peredo (4 goals) (shared) Top scorer 2015: Eduardo Vargas (4 goals) (shared) Top scorer 2016: Eduardo Vargas (6 goals) Best goalkeeper 2015: Claudio Bravo Best goalkeeper 2016: Claudio Bravo
Team records
Victory with highest number of goals conceded (5–4 v Peru in 1955; tied with Brazil 6–4 Chile in 1937 and Bolivia 5–4 Brazil in 1963)
Individual Records
Most matches: Sergio Livingstone (34, shared with Lionel Messi) Longest time span between two matches: David Pizarro (15 years and 333 days, semi-final v Uruguay in 1999 to group match v Ecuador in 2015)
See also Chile at the FIFA Confederations Cup Chile at the FIFA World Cup
References
External links RSSSF archives and results Soccerway database