For the tenth edition of the South American football Championship (known as theCopa América since 1975), Chile is organizing the competition for the second time in its history, after the [comp_annee:3*1920] South American Championship 1920. New nation affiliated with CONMEBOL on October 12, 1926, Bolivia participates thus for the first time in the largest South American tournament. Uruguay, absent during the last edition back in the race for a sixth sacred in the competition. Other participating selections are Argentina (defending champion), the Paraguay, and of course the Chilean host country. Brazil, meanwhile, declines the invitation to internal problems in its confederation. All matches of the competition take place in the capital Santiago, in stadium Campos de Sports de Ñuñoa.
In the rules of football in 1926, no replacement players is expected during a match, and the referee does not yet of yellow and red cards.
The five participating selections vie for victory in a single group, each team in turn, meeting the first of the group won the competition. A won match scores 2 points, a match draw 1 point, and a loss 0 point.
In case of equality of points between the top teams in the group, a second round is expected to know the winner of the competition.
On October 12, 1926, the South American football Championship begins.
In the Campos de Sports de Ñuñoa to Santiago of Chile, 12,000 spectators are present to attend the entry into their favorite scene, Chile, facing the Bolivian neophyte. For Bolivia, freshly affiliated to CONMEBOL on that same day after the FIFA on 3 may of the same year, it is the first international match in its history. For Chile, a founding member of CONMEBOL, this is the time or ever to finally win a first victory in a South American Championship, after several participations which the outcome was always the last place. The Argentine Referee Mr. Norberto Luis Gallieri gives the kickoff, and the forward Manuel Ramírez leavens the crowd at the 10th minute. 1-0 for the Chile, and four minutes later Guillermo Subiabre increases the score for la Roja. No time to blow for Bolivians, the striker of Colo Colo David Arellano signed his first goal in the competition one minute later. 3-0 for the Chile in the quarter of an hour of play! Forums appreciate and yell encouragement on encouragement, and Arellano arose a second time at the 41st. Halftime. The 22 players return locker rooms, and the other striker of Colo Colo Humberto Moreno satisfies his hunger for goal at the 47th minute. The score is severe for the Bolivia for its first official match, Teófilo Aguilar saves the honour and scores the first goal of the Bolivian selection at the 62nd minute. But this match is not finished, and David Arellano brand spirits by signing his third and fourth goal (80th and 84th). Final score 7-1 for the Chile, it took long for this first victory in a South American Championship, but what victory!
Four days later, the Argentine champion starts his competition facing the already bruised Bolivian. And the ordeal continues for the Bolivia, the striker of Boca Juniors Roberto Cherro scored two goals in 20 minutes (9th and 19th). Gabino Sosa asomme again the partners of Jorge Luis Valderrama, then it is the turn of Benjamin Delgado to shake the net just before halftime (43rd). Hard learning for the Bolivia. [bAntonio De Miguel[|b] wrong once goalkeeper Bermúdez (74th), and the referee whistles the end of the match. Easy victory for the champion title, which fit well in his tournament for the Bolivia the beginnings are complicated, with already 11 goals conceded in just two games played.
The next day, the Chilean host country receives the Uruguay, five-time winner of the competition. 13,000 supporters encourage la Roja, but the Uruguay is not the Bolivia, the forward of Wanderers René Borjas opened the score at the 22nd minute before Héctor Castro wrong a second time the goalkeeper Cortés ten minutes later. In the second half, the striker of the Nacional Héctor Scarone chooses the 55th minute to remember the good memories of a competition that he cherishes and scoring the third goal of the match for the Uruguayans. Guillermo Subiabre transforms a penalty whistled at the 65th, but that's enough for Chile, which tilts logically on the score of 3-1. Back in business in her favorite event, the Uruguay may intends to go back to the top of the South American hierarchy.
On 20 October, the Paraguay opens its tournament against the Argentina. Chilean referee gives the kickoff of the match, and therefore, the Paraguayans see scroll before them the talent of the Argentina team. And its attack. And this game is for Gabino Sosa, striker of Club Atlético Central Córdoba, who signs a quadruple (11th, 32nd, 59th and 87th). During the time of grace to the Argentina squad, Roberto Cherro signs his second goal of the competition, Benjamin Delgado scores one doubled, and Antonio De Miguel wrong him also the Chilean doorman. Score final 8-0, the Chile falls in his doubt, and the Argentina signed a stunning victory and sends a serious message to the other favourites of the tournament.
Three days later, the Bolivia enters for the third time on the lawn of the Campos de Sports de Ñuñoa Stadium, this time opposite to the Paraguay. And as the Chile and Argentina before him, the Paraguay saw the opportunity to treat its goal difference. Harsh reality for the Bolivian players, and yet Carlos Soto wrong the Paraguayan goalkeeper Modesto Denis from the 15th minute. Sensation in the stadium, the Bolivia is maybe in road to the first success in its history. The Uruguayan referee whistles the half on this surprising score, and Manuel Fleitas Solich, player-coach of the Paraguayan selection, out of the locker room the knife between the teeth. And the least we can say, is that his speech bears its fruit in the second half, Ildefonso López equates at the 57th, before the forward of Nacional Ceferino Ramírez signs a double in four minutes (68th and 72nd). 3-1 now for the Paraguay, then Pablo Ramírez scored the fourth goal. Ildefonso López increases the score at the 81st, and Ceferino Ramírez transforms his double in triple at the 88th. Score final 6-1, the Bolivia has believed for a half, but the harsh reality has hit during the last 45 minutes of the match.
On 24 October, it was the game which will perhaps decide the winner of the tournament, the Argentina against the Uruguay. Spectators do not deceive, and they are 15,000 when the 22 players penetrate on the lawn of the Campos de Ñuñoa Sports Stadium. The referee of the match is Paraguayan, Mr. Miguel Barba. 22nd minute, René Borjas delivers its teammates. 1-0 for the Uruguay. Argentines returned to the locker room, and begin the second period full of bouncy, but the young striker's 21 years of the Nacional Héctor Castro definitively seals the encounter at the 73rd minute. Score final 2-0 to Uruguay, which has 2 wins in two games, 4 points in the standings on par with the Argentines, but a match less.
And this game at least, the Uruguay play four days later against the newcomer competition, the Bolivia. And this match there is an opportunity to "Mago" of Nacional, Héctor Scarone, deploy all his talent, and mark in this encounter five goals. The match could have been that of a single man, but the other glory of Nacional Ángel Romano could not participate in a South American Championship without at least score a goal, which he did at the 67th minute. The Bolivia bows for his last match in the competition with a score of 6-0, the Uruguay now takes only the top of the leaderboard.
On 31 October, the Argentina confronts the Chile and must win for always believing in his title chances. And that this 25th minute is hard to cash for Gabino Sosa partners, when Guillermo Saavedra opens the score for la Roja. Huge clamor in the stadium, the Chile is trying to bring down the defending champion. Halftime is more far and the striker of Boca Juniors Domingo Alberto Tarasconi equates to the Argentina. 1-1 at the end of the first 45 minutes, everything is to be redone for the Chile, the hope is always present for the Argentina. Both teams try to snatch this precious victory, but the score does not move and the referee whistles the end of the meeting on this match 1-1 draw. Disillusioned, the Argentines include while title soars to other skies, and under the sun of Montevideo in particular.
The next day, the Uruguay faces the Paraguay and wants to celebrate this new sacred. Then the strikers of la Celeste run, Héctor Castro wanting to emulate his partner Scarone, but is limited during the match to four goals. Zoilo Saldombide opens him his goal account in this competition by signing a double. Manuel Fleitas Solich saves the honour of the Paraguay by converting a penalty, and this victory with a score of 6-1 completes a course perfect by the men of Ernesto Figoli, with 4 wins in four matches, 17 goals scored for only two conceded.
Two days later, the Chile won a new victory in the tournament against Paraguay with a score of 5-1, finishing with pride this competition.
For the sixth time in its history, the Uruguay won the South American football championship, and by this success became the flagship of the South America nation.
With 7 goals scored during the competition, the Chilean striker and a founding member of Colo Colo David Arellano is the top scorer of the South American football Championship 1926.
