Bolivia upset Brazil to clinch FIFA World Cup 2026 playoff spot

Bolivia pulled disconnected 1 of the biggest shocks of the South American qualifiers to scope the World Cup playoff round.

Bolivia shocked Brazil 1-0 to unafraid a spot successful the intercontinental playoffs for adjacent year’s World Cup, portion Argentina suffered a 1-0 decision by Ecuador successful the last circular of South America’s 2026 qualifiers connected Tuesday night.

Bolivia’s Miguel Terceros converted a punishment successful first-half stoppage clip to unafraid the location triumph implicit five-time World Cup winners Brazil successful La Paz, a effect which saw Carlo Ancelotti’s broadside driblet to 5th successful the standings.

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Bolivia volition beryllium joined successful the playoffs by 2 teams from CONCACAF arsenic good arsenic 1 each from the African, Asian and Oceania confederations, successful the hunt for 2 places astatine the World Cup successful Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The playoffs volition instrumentality spot successful Monterrey and Guadalajara successful March.

Bolivia’s midfielder Roberto Fernandez, left, and Brazil’s guardant Estevao combat for the shot during the lucifer [Daniel Miranda/AFP]

Messi-less Argentina stunned by Ecuador

While Ecuador and reigning champions Argentina had already qualified for the World Cup, determination was nary shortage of strength successful their lucifer successful Guayaquil.

Argentina’s Nicolas Otamendi was sent disconnected successful the 31st minute, and the hosts capitalised connected their numerical vantage erstwhile Enner Valencia scored a punishment successful first-half stoppage time.

Ecuador were besides reduced to 10 men erstwhile Moises Caicedo was dismissed successful the 50th minute, but they held steadfast to assertion the 1-0 triumph and spell 2nd successful the table.

Argentina prima Lionel Messi, who played his past authoritative lucifer astatine location past Thursday, did not suit up.

Despite the loss, Argentina retained apical spot successful the standings with 39 points, 9 up of Ecuador.

Colombia secured 3rd spot with a 6-3 triumph implicit Venezuela successful Maturin, with Luis Suarez stealing the amusement by scoring 4 goals to extinguish Venezuelan hopes of clinching the playoff place.

Uruguay finished qualifying successful 4th spot pursuing a 0-0 gully with Chile successful Santiago, portion Matias Galarza’s onslaught gave Paraguay a 1-0 triumph implicit Peru successful Lima, leaving them successful sixth place.

Ecuador’s Enner Valencia, right, scores the game-winning extremity against Argentina successful their World Cup CONMEBOL Qualifying fixture astatine the Monumental Banco Pichincha Stadium successful Guayaquil, Ecuador, connected September 9, 2025 [Marcos Pin/AFP]