Peru ready to prove they can still compete at Copa América 2024 even without long-time manager Gareca

SEATTLE - After a very successful seven-year stint under Argentine manager Ricardo Gareca, Peru is now trying to find a new identity with Uruguayan coach Jorge Fossati.

Appointed last December, Fossati won the Peruvian league title with Universitario de Deportes in 2023, earning the job with the national team. Under the Uruguayan, Peru remains undefeated in four games and Copa América 2024 will be Fossati's first true test as he is yet to manage a World Cup Qualifying game with 'La Bicolor.'

Peru brings a squad full of experience to Copa América 2024, where they seek to improve on their fourth-place finish achieved in 2021. Veterans Pedro Gallese, Christian Cueva and Paolo Guerrero are some of the most experienced players in this year's squad, with Guerrero looking to add more goals to his personal record.

The César Vallejo striker leads all active players for the most Copa América career goals with 14. The Peruvian would need one more goal to tie Lolo Fernández as the Peruvian with the most goals in the history of the competition.

Peru's Copa América quick facts

Group: A

Best result: champions (2 times); reached at leas the semifinals in four of the last five Copa América editions

Coach: Jorge Fossati (appointed December 2023); 3-0-1 W-L-D record

All-time Peruvian top scorer in Copa América: Paolo Guerrero (14 goals)

Where is Peru playing?

Peru will make its debut at Copa América 2024 with a game against Chile in Arlington. Four days later, they will travel to New Jersey to face the reigning Copa América champions at MetLife Stadium. They will close out the group stages with a game against Canada on June 29 in Orlando.

June 21: Peru vs Chile - AT&T Stadium, Arlington

June 25: Chile vs Argentina - MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

June 29: Canada vs Chile - Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando

26-man list for Copa América

Goalkeepers: Pedro Gallese (Orlando City), Carlos Cáceda (Melgar), Diego Romero (Universitario)

Defenders: Luis Advíncula (Boca Juniors), Oliver Sonne (Silkeborg IF), Luis Abram (Atlanta United), Alexander Callens (AEK Athens), Anderson Santamaría (Atlas), Carlos Zambrano (Alianza Lima), Marcos López (Feyenoord), Miguel Araujo (Portland Timbers), Aldo Corzo (Universitario)

Midfielders: Wilder Cartagena (Orlando City), Sergio Peña (Malmo FF), Jesús Castillo (Gil Vicente), Piero Quispe (Pumas), Christian Cueva (free agent)

Forwards: André Carrillo (Al Qadsiah), Gianluca Lapadula (Cagliari), Bryan Reyna (Belgrano), Franco Zanelatto (Alianza Lima), Andy Polo (Universitario), Edison Flores (Universitario), José Rivera (Universitario), Joao Grimaldo (Sporting Cristal), Paolo Guerrero (César Vallejo)

Notable absence

Raúl Ruidíaz

The Seattle Sounders star did not make the cut for this year's Copa América despite having a good MLS season. No other Seattle player has score more MLS goals than the Peruvian this season (7) and just a few weeks ago he became the franchise's all-time top scorer.

The last appearance Ruidíaz made for Peru was against Brazil in a World Cup Qualifier last September, but he hasn't been part of the squad for any of Peru's last eight games.

Ruidíaz was part of the team that played at the 2018 World Cup but he has only represented Peru at three Copa América editions (6 games, 1 start).

Player to watch

Christian Cueva

The tricky midfielder will arrive to Copa América 2024 with something to prove, as he is currently without a club since his contract with Al-Fateh expired earlier this year.

Cueva suffered a small injury earlier this month but made an appearance as a substitute for Peru's last friendly game against El Salvador. If he fully recovers, he will most certainly be in contention to start games for 'La Bicolor' this summer.

Since making his debut for the Peruvian national team in 2011, Cueva has been one of the most important players for 'La Bicolor' at major tournaments. At major tournaments, he has started every game for Peru since the third place play-off game against Paraguay at Copa América 2015 (21 starts in a row).

Prior to being called up this summer, Cueva hadn't played for Peru since June of 2023.

If he appears in at least two games at Copa América 2024, Cueva would become just the 10th different Peruvian with at least 100 caps for the national team.