World Cup Qualifying - South America | Group Stage

Jun 10, 2025 at 9pm UK

Estadio Municipal El Alto

Bolivia vs Chile

Match preview

Bolivia have not participated in a World Cup since 1994, and La Verde must take the scenic route if they are to end their three-decade wait and return to the global showpiece.

Although Óscar Villegas’s team are currently in eighth place, they still have a mathematical chance of finishing in the top six. However, the seven-point gap with only three games left to play suggests that this prospect is rather slim.

Bolivia are currently eighth with 14 points, four behind seventh-placed Venezuela, who are in the inter-confederation spot with nine points left to play for.

Although Villegas’s team could still overtake the in-form side in seventh place, their failure to win any of their last six CONMEBOL qualifying matches has undermined their chances of qualifying for the World Cup.

One of the four losses suffered by La Verde during that period came against Venezuela this month, a defeat that leaves them needing a five-point swing in the final matches.

Facing a Chile side with little to play for could be just what they need, even if the travelling side are aiming to end their run of defeats.

Beating Venezuela in November 2024 was only the second time La Roja had secured maximum points during the qualifying campaign. However, that victory has since been followed by two losses and a draw.

Further complicating matters for La Roja is their inability to score consistently, as evidenced by the two-time Copa América champions failing to score in their last three qualifiers and five of their last six matches.

November's 4-2 win over Venezuela was an outlier for Ricardo Gareca's side. The bottom team in the CONMEBOL qualifying table, who have lost nine of their 15 matches, are not expected to win on Tuesday.

This is understandable given that La Roja have picked up just one point from seven away qualifiers and failed to score in six of those matches.

Recent Performance

Bolivia World Cup Qualifying - South America form:LDLDL

Chile World Cup Qualifying - South America form:DWLDL

Team News

Hector Cuellar was substituted at half-time in the last match against Venezuela after a difficult first half, during which he scored in the wrong goalmouth in Bolivia's 2-0 defeat.

Miguel Terceros has scored five of La Verde’s 14 goals, accounting for 35.7% of the home side's strikes, and the forward is aiming to play a decisive role on Tuesday.

Although Chile did not suffer any injuries in their defeat to Argentina, Arturo Vidal will miss the match against Bolivia due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

With Eduardo Vargas not featuring in the defeat to Argentina, bottom side Chile will rely on Lucas Cepeda to add to his three goals for the Red One.

Possible starting lineup

Bolivia possible starting lineup:

Viscarra; Medina, Haquin, Morales, Paniagua; Vaca, Villarroel, Villamil; Fernandez, Terceros, Chavez

Chile possible starting lineup:

Cortes; Loyola, Maripan, Sierralta, Suazo; Altamirano, Echeverria, Pizarro; Cepeda, Sanchez, Osorio