Miguel ”Miguelito” Terceros has had worse football days. The 21-year-old's penalty goal in stoppage time in the first half was what decided the outcome when Bolivia ended the South American World Championship qualifying tournament with a 1–0 win.
The three points were exactly what was needed to pass Venezuela (who lost 3–6 to Colombia) and secure the important seventh place in the table, which means playing in the playoff for the World Championship in North America next year. No small thing for a nation that has not played in the World Championship for 32 years.
If it was an upset that Bolivia defeated Brazil, it was less unexpected that the upset occurred at home.
Meeting Bolivia away has been a constant headache – sometimes literal – for many opponents due to the high altitude. The match against Brazil was played, for example, at Estadio Municipal in El Alto, at over 4,000 meters above sea level.
In the World Championship qualifying tournament, Bolivia took 17 of its 20 collected points at home.
Six nations from five different football confederations will compete for two World Championship spots in the playoffs in March 2026.
