EL ALTO: Bolivia reignited their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign with a four-zero drubbing over Venezuela on Thursday in a game performed more than 4,000m (thirteen,100 toes) above sea degree. Goals from Ramiro Vaca, Carmelo Algaranaz, Miguel Terceros and Enzo Monteiro passed Bolivia their 2d win of South American qualifiers and lifted them into seventh vicinity in the 10-crew standings. The end result became a vindication of Bolivia’s circulate to play Thursday’s qualifier in El Alto — Spanish for “The Heights” — instead of at their usual domestic venue in neighboring La Paz, that is 3,600m above sea level. The skinny air of El Alto surely left Venezuela’s gamers struggling for energy towards a Bolivian team aiming to qualify for their first World Cup for the reason that attaining the 1994 finals inside the United States. Despite his team’s heavy loss, Venezuela teach Fernando Batista refused to stay on the altitude trouble after the sport. “Out of 10 questions, eight are about altitude,” Batista said. “You might not pay attention whatever from me about it.” Bolivia took the lead after simply 13 mins with a excellent goal from Vaca. The 25-12 months-vintage midfielder collected the ball around 30 yards from purpose, reduce in from the left and unleashed a ferocious shot which flew into the top nook. Greece-based striker Algaranaz then drew a nasty from Venezuela defender Jon Aramburu within the penalty box deep into first-half stoppage time earlier than dusting himself off to transform the spot-kick and make it 2-zero. Any Venezuelan hopes of a second-half fightback have been snuffed out moments after half-time whilst Terceros tucked away Bolivia’s third goal from close range following an help with the aid of Roberto Fernandez. Monteiro then completed the rout with Bolivia’s fourth intention in the 89th minute. Bolivia opted to replace their domestic qualifying video games to the thinner air of El Alto after gambling their first 3 video games of the 2026 qualifiers at the Hernando Siles Stadium in La Paz, taking simply 3 factors from a likely 9 with losses to Argentina and Ecuador followed by means of a win over Peru. With the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico elevated to include forty eight groups for the primary time, the pinnacle six groups in South American qualifiers will be assured of an area on the finals. The 7th-located crew will increase to an inter-confederation play-off. Venezuela, the best crew from South America by no means to have qualified for a World Cup, stays nicely-placed to reach the finals notwithstanding Thursday’s loss. The ‘Vinotinto’ are fourth in the standings with 9 points from seven video games, trailing Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia. “I agree with the lads extra than ever. I’m very calm approximately them due to the fact I realize we are able to be thinking about the following recreation already,” Venezuela teach Batista stated. Venezuela host Uruguay next Tuesday of their eighth sport of qualifying.
