In 1938, Peru won its first international title at the first Bolivarian Games, defeating Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. In 1939, "la Blanquirroja" won Peru's first South American Championship (known later as the Copa América). The Peruvians defeated the Uruguayan team by a close score of 2–1 in the final, after eliminating Ecuador, Chile, and Paraguay. Peru became the fourth nation to become South American champions, after Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil.