Due to injury, Rafael Lutiger was withdrawn from the Peruvian National Team.

The Peruvian National Team starts its microcycle at Videna today, prior to the matches that will be played for the fifth and sixth matchdays of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers (against Bolivia and Venezuela in La Paz and Lima, respectively). In the afternoon, the players called up from Liga 1 Betsson will be under the orders of Juan Reynoso, in order to work on the coach's game plan. However, a last-minute injury was announced. It is Rafael Lutiger, defender of Sporting Cristal.

Through the national team's social media, it was known that the 22-year-old player suffered a bilateral plantar fascia injury, so he will not be able to train with the rest of the group, thinking about a possible inclusion in the final list for the matches against Bolivia and Venezuela. It should be noted that Lutiger was not included in the last match of his team, for the final match of the Clausura Tournament. His last game was against Cienciano in Cusco.

"The Peruvian Football Federation reports that player Rafael Lutiger (Sporting Cristal) is removed from the current training period of the Senior National Team, due to a bilateral plantar fascia injury, wishing him a prompt recovery," says the statement from the national team. However, they did not add if they would call up another player to complete the group.

The 24 players called up by Reynoso from the Liga 1 Betsson will start working at Videna this Wednesday afternoon, while Thursday and Friday sessions will take place in the morning, with press access. Only on Saturday will they train behind closed doors. In the following days, the 'foreign' players who have finished the season with their respective clubs will join, such as Miguel Araujo, among others.

Peru's next challenges in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers

After their last 0-2 defeat against Argentina, the Peruvian National Team will play again when they visit Bolivia for the fifth matchday of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. This match is scheduled for Thursday, November 16th, starting at 3:00 p.m. (Peruvian time and one hour later in Bolivian territory), it will be played at the Hernando Siles Stadium in La Paz and will be broadcasted by América TV, ATV, and Movistar Deportes.

Subsequently, completing the last double matchday of 2023 - there will be no more matches until September 2024, after the Copa America of that year - the 'Blanquirroja' will host Venezuela for the sixth matchday. This match is scheduled for Tuesday, November 21st, starting at 9:00 p.m. (Peruvian time and one hour later in Venezuelan territory), it will take place at the National Stadium and will also be broadcasted in our country by the aforementioned channels.

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