Soccer map of Lima: the most symbolic streets that summarize Lima’s soccer tradition

Lima knows rush hour traffic like soccer. It is a soccer city. It houses the two most popular clubs in Peru: Lima Alliance Y University of Sports. The teams that made history the streets where they were born. Therefore, below we review the history of what gives life and football identity to this city that is covered by gray skies but still does not lose its smile.

Alianza Lima and Jirón Cotabambas

A thatch and adobe house was the first ‘office’. Located on Cotabambas street, which would become the heart of La Victoria, was the house where Mariano Chacaltana lived with his six children. His neighbors were the Carvallo and the Pedreschi. The children of those families, adolescents who saw how soccer -football, at that time- was growing in the city, got together to practice it in the pasture of the Stud Alianza.

As the song says, a rag ball was the witness of the first goal. This is how their love for soccer grew until on February 15, 1901 they founded Sport Alianza, which years later would become consolidated as Alianza Lima, one of the largest and most popular clubs in the country, current two-time champion of the Peruvian tournament.

“It all started on February 2, at a meeting on Juan Castilla street, when we attended a party. The idea caught on in the group and we founded Sport Alianzas a few days later, on February 15 at a meeting at the corner of Cotabambas and Alameda Grau”, Manuel Carballo, one of the founders, told El Íntimo magazine in 1976. , according to the Libro de Oro of Alianza Lima.

Alianza Lima was born on Cotabambas street, a national patrimony, although today, all the aliancistas meet in Matute, the club’s stadium, the heart of all. Located between Isabel La Católica and Jr. Abtao streets, the venue gives life to a district that is as popular as it is a soccer fan. The fans come to the temple walking through the streets that are painted blue and white, with club shirts everywhere, creating a party landscape.

University and the disappeared Juan Alcoba street

Training always started at six in the morning. Not before, not after. Like it was a class. Then they would have breakfast and, almost immediately, they would go to study. From the field to the classroom, every day, that was the routine of students and professors from different faculties (from UNMSM and from other special schools). They were clear about their goal: to form a sports institution to bring about social change.

This is how Universitario de Deportes was founded, the most successful club in Peru with 26 titles according to the count of the Peruvian Football Federation. It was on August 7, 1924, when a group of students officially founded the “Federación Universitaria de Fútbol” at the headquarters of the Federation of Students of Peru located at the now non-existent Calle Juan de la Coba 106 (today block 1 of Av. Abancay).

At that time, Peruvian soccer was dominated by Alianza Lima, Atlético Chalaco, Ciclista Lima, among others. The ‘U’ started from behind, but true to its style, it struggled to become what it is now, 99 years later: the one with the most unbeaten matches (36), one of the most popular and the first team to train seriously.

Luis de Souza Ferreira was not only the author of Peru’s first goal in the World Cups (in 1930). When he was a respected engineer, he was called upon to build the Lolo Fernández stadium. He helped with the collection of tools and paid the loans, so it was thought that the enclosure would bear his name. The work was inaugurated 69 years ago. What name to put? “Let them call it Lolo, I told them, I am not a character,” he recounted in it in an interview with the newspaper El Comercio. Don Lucho played with Lolo and knew the importance of the ‘Cañonero’ in the history of the ‘U’.

Thus, on July 20, 1952, the Breña campus was inaugurated, located in the first blocks of Jr. Zorritos. The ‘U’ defeated the University of Chile 4-2 with three goals from Lolo. They were the first races of a long series of games that lasted until September 2000, when the creams became locals in the Monumental de Ate, the stadium that you arrive at after overcoming the infernal traffic of the Javier Prado, although that was the fans care little or nothing for the love of their club.

Lima restaurants or soccer bars

Football is experienced everywhere: at the stadium, at home, in a brief chat with friends from the neighborhood and, of course, in restaurants or bars. For this reason, here are some places in Lima where the soccer fan can do the two things he loves the most: eat and watch soccer.

one. Football Club Stadium

Address: Jirón de la Unión 1047, Lima, Peru

A spacious, modern and relaxed atmosphere is the best presentation that Estadio Fútbol Club has. One of the most recognized restaurant-bars in the capital where you can watch all kinds of sports on its giant screen televisions. The place offers from beers to appetizers for all tastes.

2. The Corner Sports Bar & Grill

Address: Av. José Larco 1207, Miraflores

It is the perfect place to watch the latest sports matches in Lima. With its extensive menu of delicious pub-style food and a handpicked selection of beer, the experience is more than sure to be unique and unforgettable. It goes without saying that you can go with your loved ones.

3. Piano Bar Munich

Address: Jiron Quilca 150, Lima, Peru

Located half a block from the historic Plaza San Martín, Piano Bar Munich has the best atmosphere for the best sports experience. Its large indoor and outdoor space is the perfect place to relax, have a drink and watch the latest game. They have 30 TVs throughout the place so you don’t miss a minute of the action.

Four. The Sports Bar Court

Address: Alameda José María Corbacho 104, Santiago de Surco

It is a hidden soccer “point” in the Surco district, but it is the favorite of César Cueto, Chorri Palacios and the Lapadula family itself. Upon arrival, the first thing that catches your eye is a mural with the large-scale faces of the World Cup stars of yesterday and today: Gianluca Lapadula and André Carrillo, top scorers for the Peruvian team in the qualifying process for Qatar 2022, appear at the main door. ; and on the side appear Paolo Guerrero, Jefferson Farfán and Christian Cueva sharing the same wall with César Cueto, Teófilo Cubillas and Hugo Sotil, names that remind us of the most glorious era of Peruvian football.