Bolivia Secures 2026 World Cup Playoff Spot with Shock Win Over Brazil; Argentina Stunned by Ecuador
In a dramatic turn of events during the final round of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, Bolivia shocked Brazil with a 1-0 victory, securing a spot in the intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, Argentina faced a surprising 1-0 defeat against Ecuador, adding to the day’s surprises.
Bolivia’s Miguel Terceros converted a crucial penalty in first-half stoppage time, sealing a historic win over the five-time World Cup champions at the Estadio Municipal El Alto in La Paz. This victory propelled Bolivia into the playoffs, while Brazil, under manager Carlo Ancelotti, dropped to fifth place in the standings, jeopardizing their direct qualification hopes.
Bolivia will join two teams from CONCACAF, as well as representatives from the African, Asian, and Oceania confederations in the playoff hunt for two coveted spots at next year’s World Cup, set to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
In Guayaquil, Argentina, who had already secured their place in the World Cup, suffered a setback against Ecuador. The match’s intensity escalated after Nicolas Otamendi was sent off in the 31st minute. Ecuador capitalized on their numerical advantage when Enner Valencia converted a penalty just before halftime.
Ecuador faced a challenge of their own when Moises Caicedo was dismissed in the 50th minute, leaving both teams with ten men. However, Ecuador held firm to secure the victory, moving into second place in the standings, while Argentina retained the top spot with 39 points, nine ahead of their rivals.
Colombia solidified their third-place position with a high-scoring 6-3 victory over Venezuela, with Luis Suarez stealing the spotlight by netting four goals. Uruguay finished the qualifiers in fourth place after a goalless draw with Chile, while Paraguay managed a narrow 1-0 win over Peru, leaving them in sixth.
