Puno is to play an important role for the Peruvian national team on the road to the 2030 World Cup. The Peruvian Football Federation is pushing ahead with its plans for a permanent location in the Peruvian highlands. In addition to a stadium for international matches, a dedicated training base is to be built in the region. National coach Mano Menezes and football director Jean Ferrari have been exploring possible venues at high altitude for months.
Planning is now becoming more concrete. The focus is on the stadium of the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano in Puno and a possible training center in the Paucarcolla district. This means that Puno is developing from a possible alternative venue to an important part of the sporting planning for the 2030 World Cup qualifiers.
Puno is to become the national team's second home
The Peruvian Football Federation aims to ensure that future World Cup qualifiers are not played exclusively in Lima. In addition to the capital, Cusco and Puno have also been named as possible or planned venues. FPF President Agustín Lozano had already confirmed that the plans for the qualifiers include several locations.
In Lima, the Estadio Nacional and the Monumental are available. In addition, there is the Estadio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega in Cusco and stadiums in the Puno region. Puno, in particular, is now increasingly coming into focus. The city is located at an altitude of around 3,800 meters and thus offers conditions that can pose a significant challenge for visiting teams.
However, the Peruvian national team itself would have to be prepared for these conditions. This is exactly where Mano Menezes' plan comes in.
Mano Menezes wants a dedicated training base in Puno
The Brazilian national coach considers a professional training base in Puno to be necessary. The team should be able to get used to the special conditions of the extreme altitude there before international matches. Such a facility would function similarly to the well-known Videna in Lima. Therefore, the project is already referred to in Peruvian media as "Videnita" of Puno.
For Menezes, it is not enough to bring the team to the highlands a few days before a match. The players should receive suitable training pitches, medical care and professional conditions for acclimatization. This would mean that the use of altitude would be prepared long-term and not just organized immediately before important qualifying matches.
Paucarcolla is being examined as a location
Planning is becoming particularly concrete in the Paucarcolla district. The town is located about 15 kilometers from the center of Puno and is currently considered a promising location for the planned training facility. The FPF intends to cooperate with the provincial administration of Puno and the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano.
A corresponding agreement is to form the basis for the further development of the project. Previously, areas of the Liga Departamental de Fútbol de Puno were also examined. However, according to the examinations carried out so far, Paucarcolla seems to offer good conditions for the planned facility.
If the project is implemented, a permanent infrastructure for the Peruvian national team could be created there. This would not only be intended for individual games, but could be used long-term for training camps and preparation for matches at high altitude.
Estadio Monumental de la UNA comes into focus
In addition to the training center, the FPF is intensely involved with the Estadio Monumental of the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. The stadium has already been visited by representatives of the Peruvian Football Federation and the coaching staff. The initial assessments were positive. The facility has a capacity of around 35,000 spectators.
However, further work is necessary so that the stadium can be permanently used for international matches. Among other things, an improvement of the lighting is planned. The FPF wants to clarify with the university authorities which further adjustments are necessary for top-class international matches.
Thus, Puno gets not only the planned training base but also a concrete stadium perspective.
Altitude to become a home advantage for Peru
Behind the plans is a clear sporting strategy. Peru wants to use the geographical conditions of the country more for its home games. The national team traditionally played its important qualifying matches predominantly in Lima. Thus, Peru largely renounced an advantage that other South American teams have been using for decades.
Bolivia, for example, regularly plays home games at high altitude. Ecuador also uses the conditions of the highlands for international matches. With Puno, Peru would play significantly higher than in Cusco. While Cusco is approximately 3,400 meters above sea level, Puno is at around 3,800 meters. For teams whose players are not used to such conditions, the lower oxygen availability can be a significant strain.
Brazil and Argentina might also have to go to Puno
According to current media reports, the FPF is already considering which opponents could play in Puno in the future. Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia are among the teams against whom a home game in the highlands could be particularly interesting. Chile could also be considered for such a venue.
Against other South American teams, however, other stadiums could continue to be used. A final allocation of the individual qualifying matches has not yet been determined. However, the considerations show how seriously the FPF is now pursuing the new strategy. Puno should not simply become an additional venue. The altitude could be a targeted part of the sporting planning.
Peru must get used to Puno itself
However, the possible home advantage has a crucial prerequisite. Peruvian national players must also cope with the extreme altitude. Many national team players are under contract with clubs abroad and train predominantly at sea level or in significantly lower regions.
An arrival immediately before an international match would therefore also be problematic for Peru. The planned training base therefore takes on particular importance. There, the team could prepare in a controlled manner for the conditions. Training load and acclimatization could be coordinated. Menezes wants to prevent the altitude from becoming the same problem for his own team as for the opponent.
Puno becomes part of the planning for the 2030 World Cup
The Peruvian Football Federation is thinking long-term with this project. The next South American qualification is to bring Peru back to the big football stage. Peru last participated in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The qualifications for the following World Cups, however, were without successful participation.
With Mano Menezes, a new sporting cycle is now to be built. This includes not only changes within the team. The conditions surrounding training and home games are also being reviewed. Puno has become an important building block in this process.
The FPF has already visited the region several times. The stadium and possible training areas have been examined. Now it is a matter of reaching agreements with the university and local authorities and building the necessary infrastructure.
Puno could benefit permanently from the project
For the region itself, regular use by the national team would also be significant. International matches of the Peruvian selection would bring numerous visitors to Puno. Hotels, restaurants, transport companies and other tourist providers could benefit from this.
At the same time, the planned training infrastructure would enhance football in the region. A modern facility could also be interesting in the long term for youth work and regional football projects. Puno would thus no longer be known internationally exclusively for Lake Titicaca and its cultural significance. The city could additionally gain a permanent place on Peru's football map.
From an idea to a concrete project
Only a few months ago, the main discussion was whether the Peruvian national team should even play qualifying matches at high altitude. Now, planning is much further along. The Estadio Monumental of the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano has been examined, infrastructure improvements are being prepared, and at the same time, a permanent solution for the national team's training is being sought in Paucarcolla.
Thus, it is no longer just a question of whether Peru might ever play in Puno. The FPF is working to create the necessary conditions for this. If the stadium, training center and organizational conditions are ready in time, Puno could indeed become a new home for the Peruvian national team during the 2030 World Cup qualifiers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Peru want to play in Puno?
Puno is located at an altitude of approximately 3,800 meters. The FPF hopes this will give them a sporting advantage in certain home games against teams whose players are not used to such conditions.
Where will the national team play in Puno?
The Estadio Monumental of the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano is at the center of the plans. The stadium has already been inspected by FPF officials and the coaching staff.
Where will the new training base be built?
The Paucarcolla district is currently considered a promising location. A smaller training facility, modeled after the Videna in Lima, could be built there.
Why does Peru need a training base in Puno?
Many Peruvian national players are not used to the extreme altitude themselves. A training base would allow for targeted acclimatization before international matches.
Will Peru only play in Puno in the future?
No. The FPF's plans include several home venues. In addition to Puno, Lima and Cusco are also part of the strategy for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Could Brazil and Argentina play in Puno?
According to current media reports, Brazil and Argentina are among the teams against whom the FPF is considering a match in Puno. A final determination of the individual matches has not yet been made.
Sources
Agencia Andina – Mano Menezes seeks to have a Videna for the Peruvian national team in Puno, August 2026.
El Comercio – Where the Videnita de Puno would be built, what changes the UNA stadium will have and why Brazil and Argentina could go to altitude, September 2, 2026.
RPP – Agustín Lozano confirms Lima, Cusco and Puno as planned venues for the 2030 World Cup qualifiers.
RPP – Mano Menezes and the planned Videna in Puno, August 2026.