In a significant turn of events in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, Bolivia secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Venezuela at the high-altitude Estadio Municipal de El Alto. The match, played at 4,150 meters above sea level, saw goals from Ramiro Vaca, Carmelo Algarañaz, Miguel Terceros, and Enzo Monteiro. This win, under new coach Óscar Villegas, has propelled Bolivia from the bottom of the standings to seventh place with six points.The high-altitude conditions proved challenging for the Venezuelan team, who struggled physically throughout the match. As noted by TyC Sports, ‘Venezuela was asphyxiated by the tough conditions of the stadium, despite having arrived in the city on the same day of the match’. This victory marks a significant resurgence for Bolivia, with coach Villegas stating, ‘It was a great day’.Meanwhile, attention turns to the upcoming match between Argentina and Chile. Argentina, currently leading the qualifiers with 15 points, faces a unique challenge as they prepare to play without their star players Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María. Messi is sidelined due to a ligament injury in his right ankle, while Di María has retired from the national team.Despite these absences, Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni remains optimistic, stating that the team is in an ‘unbeatable position’ to continue their World Cup campaign. Scaloni has called up Paulo Dybala as a replacement for Messi, emphasizing that the team selection is based on performance rather than the league in which a player competes.As the qualifiers progress, the landscape of South American football continues to evolve. Bolivia’s unexpected triumph and Argentina’s test of depth promise to make the road to the 2026 World Cup an exciting journey for fans across the continent.
Key points
- Bolivia secured a 4-0 victory over Venezuela in a high-altitude World Cup qualifier, moving to seventh place in the standings.
- Argentina prepares to face Chile without key players Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María, testing the team’s depth.
- The high-altitude conditions at El Alto (4,150 meters above sea level) proved challenging for the Venezuelan team.
