World Cup qualifying for South America wrapped up on Tuesday with a dramatic finale, as Bolivia leapfrogged Venezuela to claim CONMEBOL’s seventh-place finish \u2014 the playoff spot that offers a chance to reach the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n
The automatic qualification spots had already been secured a week earlier, leaving the other three South American matches to be played for pride and form.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t pretty, but it was effective. Playing at the dangerous altitude of El Alto, Bolivia stunned Brazil 1-0. The result consigned Brazil to their worst World Cup qualifying campaign in over 20 years and sent Bolivia into the Intercontinental Playoffs in March. There, they will face a team from Africa or Asia.<\/p>\n
Bolivia\u2019s 21-year-old star Miguelito, who plays for Am\u00e9rica Mineiro in Brazil ‘s second division, finished the qualifying campaign with six goals. His latest was one of the most historic in Bolivia\u2019s limited footballing history. Bolivia even watered half the field at halftime<\/a>, and their staff was exploiting how the ball moves at altitude to limit Brazil. The hosts unleashed 23 shots compared to Brazil\u2019s 10 and kept Carlo Ancelotti\u2019s side at bay. Captain Luis Haquin, who plays club football in Ecuador, anchored the defense alongside 38-year-old goalkeeper Carlos Lampe, who earned a clean sheet.<\/p>\n Despite a -18 goal differential during qualifying \u2014 often losing heavily away from home while winning narrowly at altitude \u2014 Bolivia did just enough. Playing at a neutral venue in Mexico for the playoff, they will not be favored but cannot be counted out. From La Paz to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, fireworks and celebrations lit up the night as Bolivia kept their World Cup dream alive. They last qualified for a World Cup in 1994.<\/p>\n