U-20 World Cup: Chile 1987 edit

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.

The second match against Togo, had Chile winning by a score of 3–0, with Pino scoring through a penalty kick in the '8 minute of the match. Tudor would also respond by scoring two goals in the 32nd and 75th minute of the match and securing victory.

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.^[1]

U-20 World Cup: Netherlands 2005 edit

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.^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

U-20 World Cup: Canada 2007 edit

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.^[6]

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.^[7]

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.^[8] 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.^[9]

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.^[10]

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.^[11]

The third place spot brought a familiar opponent group A, rivals Austria. The match was a consolation prize for the teams in dispute and a meritable reward after a hard-fought campaign. Both countries would initiate great plays. One goal was enough with Chile's defender Hans Martínez hitting the ball past the goalkeeper and onto the net from a free kick cross, ending the match 1–0.^[12]

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.^[11][13]

Alexis Sánchez, Mathías Vidangossy, Arturo Vidal, Cristián Suárez and Christopher Toselli all listed as candidates for top player of the tournament.^[14]

U-20 World Cup: Turkey 2013 edit

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).

FIFA World Youth Championship Record edit

• FIFA U-20 World Cup

• Third place (1): 2007
• Fourth place (1): 1987

Record by opponent edit

Current squad edit

The following 29 players were called up for the training microcycle and the local friendly matches against Audax Italiano, Deportes Colina and Unión Española from 18 to 26 March 2024.^[15]

1987 FIFA World Youth Championship edit

Coach: Luis Ibarra  

1995 FIFA World Youth Championship edit

Coach: Leonardo Véliz  

2001 FIFA World Youth Championship edit

Coach: Hector Pinto  

2005 FIFA World Youth Championship edit

Coach: José Sulantay  

2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup edit

Coach: José Sulantay  

2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup edit

Coach: Mario Salas  

• South American Youth Championship
• Chile national under-17 football team
• Chile (Senior) team

• Official ANFP Asociacion Nacional de Futbol Professional
• FIFA.com: FIFA U-20 World Cup 2007
• Chilean football forum on national teams