Bolivia Stun Brazil to Seal Play-Off Spot for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

In one of the most dramatic finishes to South American World Cup qualifying, Bolivia secured a stunning 1-0 victory over five-time world champions Brazil on Tuesday, earning a crucial play-off berth for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Miguel Terceros’s penalty on the stroke of half-time proved decisive in the historic win, played at the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz—a venue known for its punishing 4,150-metre altitude, often cited as one of the toughest in world football.

The victory sees Bolivia leapfrog Venezuela into seventh place in the final standings of CONMEBOL qualifying, earning them a ticket to the intercontinental play-off tournament next March, reportedly set to be held in Mexico. Two nations from the six-team tournament will secure final spots at the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

For Bolivia, the win sparked wild celebrations across La Paz, especially in the high-altitude districts of El Alto. The country is now one step closer to returning to football’s biggest stage for the first time since their group-stage exit at the 1994 World Cup in the USA.

“We’re very happy, but we need to keep our feet on the ground, knowing that we have to keep fighting,”
— Bolivian coach Oscar Villegas

Source: Channels