1972 Torneo Descentralizado
The 1972 Torneo Descentralizado, the top category of Peruvian football, was played by 16 teams. The season was divided into 3 stages. The first stage was contested in two groups: Metropolitan and Regional ; each group winner qualified for the Championship Group. The second stage was the Descentralised ; the top 4 qualified for the Championship Group and the bottom 2 were relegated. Championship Group was contested by 6 teams in Lima; neither team carried their previous records. The national champion was Sporting Cristal.Teams
| Team | City | Stadium | Capacity | Field |
| Alianza Lima | Lima | Nacional | 45,750 | Grass |
| Atlético Grau | Piura | Miguel Grau | 25,000 | Grass |
| Atlético Torino | Talara | Campeonísimo | 8,000 | Grass |
| Carlos A. Mannucci | Trujillo | Mansiche | 24,000 | Grass |
| Defensor Arica | Lima | Nacional | 45,750 | Grass |
| Defensor Lima | Lima | Nacional | 45,750 | Grass |
| Deportivo Municipal | Lima | Nacional | 45,750 | Grass |
| José Gálvez | Chimbote | Manuel Rivera Sánchez | 25,000 | Artificial |
| Juan Aurich | Chiclayo | Elías Aguirre | 24,500 | Grass |
| León de Huánuco | Huánuco | Heraclio Tapia | 15,000 | Grass |
| Melgar | Arequipa | Mariano Melgar | 20,000 | Grass |
| SIMA | Callao | Miguel Grau | 15,000 | Grass |
| Sport Boys | Callao | Miguel Grau | 15,000 | Grass |
| Sporting Cristal | Lima | Nacional | 45,750 | Grass |
| Unión Tumán | Tumán | Eugenio Zapata Mingoya | 8,000 | Grass |
| Universitario | Lima | Nacional | 45,750 | Grass |
First stage
Metropolitan group
Regional group
Tiebreaker
Torneo Descentralizado
Final group
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SPORTING CRISTAL
1972 National Champions - 5th title
