# Copa Perú

The Copa Perú is a football tournament in Peru and the fourth-highest division of the Peruvian football league system. Despite its name, it is not entirely an elimination-cup competition involving all Peruvian clubs, but rather a series of league tournaments leading to an elimination tournament, with regional league clubs as participants. It guarantees its finalists promotion to the Liga 3.

## Background

In 1965, with football activity practically paralyzed among the Lima teams because the Peru national football team was playing in the 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification, four provincial teams agreed under the auspices of Orlando Balarezo, president of Atlético Grau, to organize the Cuadrangular de Campeones Provincianos, a football tournament in Lima between the provincial champions.

## History

In 1966, the First Division was named Descentralizado; teams from outside the capital of Lima were allowed to participate in the professional first division. The following year, the Copa Perú began, in which all non-professional teams in Peru were allowed to compete, with the winner to gain promotion to the First Division. After playing many elimination rounds, once six teams were left in the competition, they played in a final round-robin tournament in Lima.
In 1974, the tournament ended at the Regional Stage and no Final took place. The departamental champions qualified for the 1974 Reclasificatorio Regional with the last teams from the 1973 Torneo Descentralizado that had to revalidate the category. At the end of the 1974 Reclasificatorio Regional, the teams Alfonso Ugarte, Barrio Frigorífico, Carlos A. Mannucci, Deportivo Junín, Piérola, Unión Huaral, Unión Pesquero and Walter Ormeño were promoted to the 1974 Torneo Descentralizado.
In 1984, the First Division grew from 16 to 44 teams: after the first stage of the season, a Regional Championship qualified the teams for the Decentralizado, with 16 to 18 teams. The Copa Perú qualified teams for the Regional competition. Following this the tournament declined; 1987 was the last year in which a final was contested. The competitions was suspended as a result of the lack of interest and general economic crisis going on during President Alan García's first term. In 1992 the First Division returned to its normal format (16 teams). In 1993 the Copa Perú was returned as a competition for the Second Division, but only for teams outside of Lima. Since 1993, there has also been a Second Division for teams competing that are based in Lima.
In 1998, a major change took place: eight teams from the regional stage qualified for the Finals stage. This was played as a traditional cup tournament with home and away legs being played. The winner gains promotion to the First Division. In 2004, the tournament widened to 16 teams, so that teams from Lima could also compete. The winner and runner-up of the Second Division played in the Round of 16 of the Copa Peru. However, in 2006 this format was abolished as now the winner of the Second Division is promoted to the First Division. In 2008, the National Stage was modified. The four teams that qualified for the semi-finals played in a final group stage; the top two were promoted to the First Division.
In 2009, the Peruvian Football Federation officialized the creation of the Ligas Superiores del Peru. The Ligas Superiores will group to a select group of clubs of each department, that will be faced only among itself and will throw a champion and a runner-up that will agree directly, for now, to play a home run against the clubs that remain first and second in the Departmental Stage. For 2009, nine Departmental Confederacies had adopted them: Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Huánuco, Lambayeque, Pasco, Piura, Puno and Tumbes.
On August 23, 2022, it was announced that from 2023, the Copa Perú would only give promotion to Liga 2 due to the reforms of Peruvian football by the FPF. In 2025, the Copa Perú was moved to the fourth tier, being replaced by the Liga 3.

## Format

The tournament has 5 stages. The first stage of the tournament is the District Stage (Spanish: Etapa Distrital), played from February to May. Districts hold a small league tournament to determine its winners which will qualify for the next stage. The second stage is the Provincial Stage (Spanish: Etapa Provincial), played in June and July. The District winners play in groups and the winners qualify for the next stage. The third stage is the Departmental Stage (Spanish: Etapa Departamental), consisting of another league tournament, between July and September.
Starting in 2015 under the leadership of the new Peruvian Football Federation president Edwin Oviedo, all the Regions of Peru are represented in the National Stage, which is played under Regional using the POT System, intellectual property of MatchVision company. The new National Stage starts in the first week of September.
This new phase features the 50 teams that qualified from the Departmental Stage. Each team plays 3 games at home and 3 games away, for a total of 6 games against 3 different geographical rivals. The departmental stage winners only play against departmental runners-up, and vice versa. All the teams are positioned in one general table. After 6 matches, the team in places 1 to 8 are qualified directly to the Round of 16, while the teams in places 9 to 24 will play the Repechage phase. The teams in places 25 to 50 are eliminated.
The teams play a bracket tournament up to the Semi-finals. All four teams qualified to the semi-finals play a final group stage known as La Finalísima in Lima. The winner of the final group stage and the runner-up of the final group stage will be promoted to the Liga 2.

## Division levels

| Year | Level | Promotion to | Relegation to |
| 1967–1973 | 2 | Primera División | Ligas DepartamentalesLigas ProvincialesLigas Distritales |
| 1974 | 3 | Reclasificatorio Regional | Ligas DepartamentalesLigas ProvincialesLigas Distritales |
| 1975–1990 | 3 | Primera División | Ligas DepartamentalesLigas ProvincialesLigas Distritales |
| 1991 | 3 | Torneo Zonal | Ligas DepartamentalesLigas ProvincialesLigas Distritales |
| 1992–2022 | 2 | Primera División (Champion)Segunda División (Runner-up) | Ligas DepartamentalesLigas ProvincialesLigas Distritales |
| 2023–2024 | 3 | Liga 2 | Ligas DepartamentalesLigas ProvincialesLigas Distritales |
| 2025 | 4 | Liga 3 | Ligas DepartamentalesLigas ProvincialesLigas Distritales |

## Champions

* (In bracket, title count):
| Ed. | Season | Champion | Runner-up |
| 1 | 1967 | Alfonso Ugarte de Chiclín (1) | Octavio Espinosa |
| 2 | 1968 | Carlos A. Mannucci (1) | Sport Chorrillos |
| 3 | 1969 | Carlos A. Mannucci (2) | Melgar |
| 4 | 1970 | Atlético Torino (1) | Melgar |
| 5 | 1971 | Melgar (1) | Unión Tumán |
| 6 | 1972 | Atlético Grau (1) | León de Huánuco |
| 7 | 1973 | Sportivo Huracán (1) | Cienciano |
| – | 1974 | No champion crowned. It was only played until the Departamental Stage. (See: 1974 Reclasificatorio Regional) | No champion crowned. It was only played until the Departamental Stage. (See: 1974 Reclasificatorio Regional) |
| 8 | 1975 | Atlético Torino (2) | Sportivo Huracán |
| 9 | 1976 | Coronel Bolognesi (1) | Pesca Perú |
| 10 | 1977 | Atlético Torino (3) | Juventud La Palma |
| 11 | 1978 | Juventud La Palma (1) | Pesca Perú |
| 12 | 1979 | ADT (1) | Comercial Aguas Verdes |
| 13 | 1980 | León de Huánuco (1) | Unión Gonzáles Prada |
| 14 | 1981 | UTC (1) | Juventud La Palma |
| 15 | 1982 | Atlético Torino (4) | Atlético Grau |
| 16 | 1983 | Sport Pilsen (1) | Deportivo Cañaña |
| 17 | 1984 | Los Espartanos (1) | Alianza Atlético |
| 18 | 1985 | Hungaritos Agustinos (1) | Tejidos La Unión |
| 19 | 1986 | Deportivo Cañaña (1) | Félix Donayre |
| 20 | 1987 | Libertad (1) | Capitán Clavero |
| – | 1988–1992 | No champions crowned. It was only played until the Regional Stage. (See: 1992 Torneo Zonal) | No champions crowned. It was only played until the Regional Stage. (See: 1992 Torneo Zonal) |
| 21 | 1993 | Aurich–Cañaña (1) | Aurora |
| 22 | 1994 | Atlético Torino (5) | Aurora |
| 23 | 1995 | La Loretana (1) | Sportivo Huracán |
| 24 | 1996 | José Gálvez (1) | UTC |
| 25 | 1997 | Juan Aurich (1) | Deportivo UPAO |
| 26 | 1998 | I.M.I. (1) | Coronel Bolognesi |
| 27 | 1999 | Deportivo UPAO (1) | Alfonso Ugarte |
| 28 | 2000 | Estudiantes de Medicina (1) | Coronel Bolognesi |
| 29 | 2001 | Coronel Bolognesi (2) | Universidad Cesar Vallejo |
| 30 | 2002 | Atlético Universidad (1) | Atlético Grau |
| 31 | 2003 | Universidad Cesar Vallejo (1) | Deportivo Educación |
| 32 | 2004 | Sport Áncash (1) | Deportivo Municipal |
| 33 | 2005 | José Gálvez (2) | Senati |
| 34 | 2006 | Total Clean (1) | Hijos de Acosvinchos |
| 35 | 2007 | Juan Aurich (2) | Sport Águila |
| 36 | 2008 | Sport Huancayo (1) | CNI |
| 37 | 2009 | León de Huánuco (2) | Tecnólogico |
| 38 | 2010 | Unión Comercio (1) | Alianza Unicachi |
| 39 | 2011 | Real Garcilaso (1) | Pacífico |
| 40 | 2012 | UTC (2) | Alfonso Ugarte |
| 41 | 2013 | San Simón (1) | Unión Huaral |
| 42 | 2014 | Sport Loreto (1) | Unión Fuerza Minera |
| 43 | 2015 | Defensor La Bocana (1) | Academia Cantolao |
| 44 | 2016 | Sport Rosario (1) | Deportivo Hualgayoc |
| 45 | 2017 | Binacional (1) | Atlético Grau |
| 46 | 2018 | Pirata (1) | Alianza Universidad |
| 47 | 2019 | Carlos Stein (1) | Deportivo Llacuabamba |
| – | 2020 | No completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | No completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| 48 | 2021 | ADT (2) | Alfonso Ugarte |
| 49 | 2022 | Deportivo Garcilaso (1) | Comerciantes |
| 50 | 2023 | ADA (1) | San Marcos |
| 51 | 2024 | Bentín Tacna Heroica (1) | Cajamarca |

### Footnotes

    A. ^ In this year the tournament ended at the Departamental Stage and no Final took place. The departamental champions qualified for the 1974 Reclasificatorio Regional with the last teams from the 1973 Torneo Descentralizado that had to revalidate the category. At the end of the 1974 Reclasificatorio Regional, the teams Alfonso Ugarte, Barrio Frigorífico, Carlos A. Mannucci, Deportivo Junín, Piérola, Unión Huaral, Unión Pesquero and Walter Ormeño were promoted to the 1974 Torneo Descentralizado.
    B. ^ From 1988 to 1992, no Final tournaments were held. Regional champions entered the Peruvian Primera División’s Regional tournaments.

## Titles by club

| Rank | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Seasons won | Seasons runner-up |
| 1 | Atlético Torino | 5 | — | 1970, 1975, 1977, 1982, 1994 | — |
| 2 | Coronel Bolognesi | 2 | 2 | 1976, 2001 | 1998, 2000 |
| 2 | León de Huánuco | 2 | 1 | 1980, 2009 | 1972 |
| 2 | UTC | 2 | 1 | 1981, 2012 | 1996 |
| 2 | ADT | 2 | — | 1979, 2021 | — |
| 2 | Carlos A. Mannucci | 2 | — | 1968, 1969 | — |
| 2 | José Gálvez | 2 | — | 1996, 2005 | — |
| 2 | Juan Aurich | 2 | — | 1997, 2007 | — |
| 3 | Atlético Grau | 1 | 3 | 1972 | 1982, 2002, 2017 |
| 3 | Juventud La Palma | 1 | 2 | 1978 | 1977, 1981 |
| 3 | Melgar | 1 | 2 | 1971 | 1969, 1970 |
| 3 | Sportivo Huracán | 1 | 2 | 1973 | 1975, 1995 |
| 3 | Deportivo Cañaña | 1 | 1 | 1986 | 1983 |
| 3 | Universidad César Vallejo | 1 | 1 | 2003 | 2001 |
| 3 | Deportivo UPAO | 1 | 1 | 1999 | 1997 |
| 3 | ADA | 1 | — | 2023 | — |
| 3 | Alfonso Ugarte de Chiclín | 1 | — | 1967 | — |
| 3 | Atlético Universidad | 1 | — | 2002 | — |
| 3 | Aurich–Cañaña | 1 | — | 1993 | — |
| 3 | Bentín Tacna Heroica | 1 | — | 2024 | — |
| 3 | Binacional | 1 | — | 2017 | — |
| 3 | Carlos Stein | 1 | — | 2019 | — |
| 3 | Defensor La Bocana | 1 | — | 2015 | — |
| 3 | Deportivo Garcilaso | 1 | — | 2022 | — |
| 3 | Estudiantes de Medicina | 1 | — | 2000 | — |
| 3 | Hungaritos Agustinos | 1 | — | 1985 | — |
| 3 | I.M.I. | 1 | — | 1998 | — |
| 3 | La Loretana | 1 | — | 1995 | — |
| 3 | Libertad | 1 | — | 1987 | — |
| 3 | Los Espartanos | 1 | — | 1984 | — |
| 3 | Pirata | 1 | — | 2018 | — |
| 3 | Real Garcilaso | 1 | — | 2011 | — |
| 3 | San Simón | 1 | — | 2013 | — |
| 3 | Sport Áncash | 1 | — | 2004 | — |
| 3 | Sport Huancayo | 1 | — | 2008 | — |
| 3 | Sport Loreto | 1 | — | 2014 | — |
| 3 | Sport Pilsen | 1 | — | 1983 | — |
| 3 | Sport Rosario | 1 | — | 2016 | — |
| 3 | Total Clean | 1 | — | 2006 | — |
| 3 | Unión Comercio | 1 | — | 2010 | — |

## Titles by region

| Region | Nº of titles | Clubs |
| La Libertad | 8 | Carlos A. Mannucci (2), Alfonso Ugarte de Chiclín (1), Los Espartanos (1), Libertad (1), Sport Pilsen (1), Deportivo UPAO (1), Universidad César Vallejo (1) |
| Piura | 8 | Atlético Torino (5), Atlético Grau (1), I.M.I. (1), Defensor La Bocana (1) |
| Lambayeque | 6 | Juan Aurich (2), Deportivo Cañaña (1), Aurich–Cañaña (1), Carlos Stein (1), Pirata (1) |
| Arequipa | 5 | Melgar (1), Sportivo Huracán (1), Atlético Universidad (1), Total Clean (1), Binacional (1) |
| Ancash | 4 | José Gálvez (2), Sport Áncash (1), Sport Rosario (1) |
| Junin | 3 | ADT (2), Sport Huancayo (1) |
| Cajamarca | 3 | UTC (2), ADA (1) |
| Tacna | 3 | Coronel Bolognesi (2), Bentín Tacna Heroica (1) |
| Cusco | 2 | Real Garcilaso (1), Deportivo Garcilaso (1) |
| Huánuco | 2 | León de Huánuco (2) |
| Ucayali | 2 | La Loretana (1), Sport Loreto (1) |
| Ica | 1 | Estudiantes de Medicina (1) |
| Lima | 1 | Juventud La Palma (1) |
| Loreto | 1 | Hungaritos Agustinos (1) |
| Moquegua | 1 | San Simón (1) |
| San Martín | 1 | Unión Comercio (1) |

## List of Regional champions
### (1993–1994)

| Season | Región I | Región II | Región III | Región IV | Región V | Región VI | Región VII | Región VIII | Región IX | Región X | Región XI | Región XII |
| 1993 | José Olaya (Paita) | Aurich-Cañaña | Unión Juventud | Cosmos | San Antonio | CNI | ADT | Mariano Santos | Cultural Santa Rosa | Deportivo Garcilaso | Aurora | Carlos Varea |
| 1994 | Atlético Torino | Boca Juniors | José Gálvez | Octavio Espinosa | Atlético Nacional | La Loretana | Cultural Hidro | UNHEVAL | Social Magdalena | Deportivo Garcilaso | Aurora | Alfonso Ugarte |

### (1995–1997)

| Season | Región I | Región II | Región III | Región IV | Región V | Región VI |
| 1995 | UTC | Deportivo Marsa | La Loretana | Diablos Rojos (Huancavelica) | Deportivo Municipal (Pacucha) | Sportivo Huracán |
| 1996 | UTC | José Gálvez | CNI | León de Huánuco | Gigantes del Cenepa | Coronel Bolognesi |
| 1997 | Juan Aurich | Deportivo UPAO | CNI | Cultural Hidro | Los Chankas | Deportivo Universitario |

### (1998–2014)

| Season | Región I | Región II | Región III | Región IV | Región V | Región VI | Región VII | Región VIII |
| 1998 | IMI | UTC | CNI | Telefunken 20 | Cultural Hidro | Unión Grauina | Alfonso Ugarte | Coronel Bolognesi |
| 1999 | Deportivo Pomalca | Deportivo UPAO | El Tumi | Estudiantes de Medicina | Deportivo Municipal (ET) | Deportivo Educación | Alfonso Ugarte | Coronel Bolognesi |
| 2000 | Atlético Grau | Sport Áncash | San Juan | Estudiantes de Medicina | León de Huánuco | Kola Real | Deportivo Garcilaso | Coronel Bolognesi |
| 2001 | Atlético Grau | U. César Vallejo | UNU | Somos Aduanas | León de Huánuco | Deportivo Educación | Alfonso Ugarte | Coronel Bolognesi |
| 2002 | Atlético Grau | U. César Vallejo | CNI | Juventud Torre Blanca | León de Huánuco | UDA | Senati | Atlético Universidad |
| 2003 | Flamengo | U. César Vallejo | UNAP | Abraham Valdelomar | Echa Muni | Deportivo Educación | Deportivo Garcilaso | Deportivo Enersur |
| Season | Región I | Región II | Región V | Región VI | Región III | Región IV | Región VIII | Región VII |
| 2004 | Universidad de Chiclayo | Sport Áncash | UNAP | Olímpico Somos Perú | Echa Muni | San José | Franciscano San Román | Juventus Corazón |
| Season | Región I | Región II | Región IV | Región III | Región VI | Región V | Región VIII | Región VII |
| 2005 | Olimpia | UTC | CNI | Telefunken 20 | Universitario (Y) | Abraham Valdelomar | Deportivo Educación | Senati |
| Season | Región I | Región II | Región III | Región IV | Región VI | Región V | Región VIII | Región VII |
| 2006 | Juan Aurich | ADA | CNI | Jesús del Valle | León de Huánuco | Sport Victoria | UANCV | Total Clean |
| 2007 | Juan Aurich | Sport Vallejo | UNU | Cooperativa Bolognesi | Sport Águila | Sport Victoria | Deportivo Garcilaso | IDUNSA |
| Season | Región I | Región II | Región III | Región IV | Región V | Región VI | Región VIII | Región VII |
| 2008 | Atlético Torino | Comerciantes Unidos | CNI | Íntimo Cable Visión | Alianza Universidad | Sport Huamanga | Diablos Rojos (Juliaca) | Cobresol |
| 2009 | Defensor San José | Carlos A. Mannucci | UNAP | DIM | Alianza Universidad | Froebel Deportes | José María Arguedas | Unión Minas (O) |
| 2010 | Defensor San José | Unión Comercio | Atlético Pucallpa | Géminis | ADT | Sport Victoria | Alianza Unicachi | Sportivo Huracán |
| 2011 | Los Caimanes | UTC | UNU | Pacífico | Alianza Universidad | Defensor Zarumilla | Franciscano San Román | Sportivo Huracán |
| 2012 | Sporting Pizarro | UTC | Alianza Cristiana | Walter Ormeño | Juventud Ticlacayán | Sport Victoria | Binacional | Sportivo Huracán |
| 2013 | UD Chulucanas | Comerciantes Unidos | Sport Loreto | Unión Huaral | Alipio Ponce | San Ignacio | Unión Fuerza Minera | San Simón |
| 2014 | Defensor La Bocana | Sport Chavelines | Sport Loreto | Aurora Chancayllo | Sport Águila | Defensor Zarumilla | Unión Fuerza Minera | Sportivo Cariocos |
| Defunct Tournament |||||||||