Bolivia dreams of the 2026 World Cup after thrashing Venezuela in the high altitude of El Alto

Bolivia achieved a crucial victory on Matchday 7 of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers by defeating Venezuela 4-0. This win not only keeps Bolivia in the race for a playoff spot but also revitalizes their hopes of qualifying for the next World Cup.

The impact of El Alto’s altitude

The match was held at the Municipal Stadium of Villa Ingenio, located 4,150 meters above sea level, a key factor in Bolivia’s dominance throughout the game. Ramiro Vaca opened the scoring with a stunning long-distance goal at the 13-minute mark, followed by a penalty converted by Carmelo Algañaraz at the end of the first half.

Convincing second-half performance

Just after the second half started, Bolivia extended their lead with a goal from Miguel Terceros, who finished off an excellent team play. Enzo Monteiro sealed the victory with a fourth goal in the 89th minute. Despite some attempts, Venezuela couldn’t overcome the altitude or Bolivia’s solid defense.

Altitude, an unfailing ally for Bolivia

This result confirms Bolivia’s effectiveness when playing in El Alto, one of the highest stadiums in the world, which led the national team to choose this venue over the traditional Hernando Siles Stadium in La Paz. With this win, Bolivia now has six points and moves into the playoff zone, overtaking Paraguay.

Upcoming challenges

The Bolivian national team will need to maintain this level if they want to keep dreaming of the World Cup. Their next match will be against Chile as visitors, while Venezuela will seek recovery in their match against Uruguay in Maturín.