Bolivia secures a stunning 4-0 victory over Venezuela in a World Cup qualifier, showcasing their dominance at high altitude. Discover the match highlights here.
Introduction:
Bolivia renewed their aspirations to secure a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after they trounced Venezuela 4-0 on Thursday. The match, staged at more than 4,000 meters above sea level in El Alto, saw Bolivia overpower their rivals, taking advantage of the peculiarities of their newly adopted home. Second-half goals by Ramiro Vaca, Carmelo Algaranaz, Miguel Terceros, and Enzo Monteiro sealed a second win for Bolivia in these South American qualifiers and put them right in the thick of things.
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A Gambler’s Move to El Alto Pays Off
Bolivia’s decision to switch their home qualifying games from La Paz to El Alto, therefore, proved to be a masterstroke. If already La Paz was at 3,600 meters, the extreme elevation in El Alto truly made all the difference for them in that match. Venezuela, who had reached in decent form, could neither cope with the thin air nor disturb their opponents, as they dominated right from the beginning.
This move was a clear strategic decision, especially as Bolivia had collected just three points from their first three games played in La Paz. Losses to heavyweights Argentina and Ecuador had dented their hopes, but a victory over Peru in their last home game provided a glimmer of hope. The move to El Alto proved to be a gamble, one that succeeded in grand style as Bolivia made a mockery of Venezuela on Thursday-night winning and dictating terms from the first whistle to the last.
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First Half: Bolivia Takes the Reins
Bolivia took little time settling things. In the 13th minute, midfielder Ramiro Vaca stunned the visitors with an inaugural spectacular goal. Drawing in from the left, Vaca found himself some space about 30 yards out from goal and launched a thunderous shot into the top corner, with the Venezuelan goalkeeper Rafael Romo having no chance. It was also a sign of things to come in this match, as Bolivia continued piling on the pressure, never really allowing Venezuela a glimpse of the opposing goal.
Venezuela struggled to find their rhythm, and the altitude was clearly affecting their energy level and movement. Bolivia continued to probe and were finally rewarded just before the break. In the first-half stoppage time, Greece-based striker Carmelo Algaranaz drew a foul in the penalty box after a clumsy challenge from Venezuela defender Jon Aramburu. Algaranaz calmly stepped up to the spot and converted the penalty for a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
Second Half: The Dominance of Bolivia
Venezuela’s hopes of a second-half comeback were barely warm when the South Americans put those dreams to rest just minutes after the restart. Miguel Terceros netted Bolivia’s third with a close-range finish after a well-placed assist by Roberto Fernandez. The quick goal deflated Venezuela, who struggled to muster up any substantial response.
Meanwhile, Bolivia never seemed in a hurry throughout the game, as they controlled the tempo of the game at will. The fourth and final goal came in the 89 minutes, as substitute Enzo Monteiro brought up the curtains on Bolivia’s performance with a cool finish to complete the 4-0 rout and seal an important three points for the Bolivians.
The Altitude Debate
Most of the post-match talk was about how the extremely high altitude of El Alto affected the proceedings. The players of Venezuela were visibly struggling throughout the match, with their energy clearly compromised by the conditions of the match. Yet, the coach of Venezuela, Fernando Batista, would not blame the altitude for his team’s performance.
“Out of 10 questions, eight are about altitude,” Batista said after the game. “You won’t hear anything from me about it.” Instead, Batista chose to look ahead at the next hurdle his team would face and remained confident in his players: “I trust the boys more than ever. I’m very calm about them because I know we will be thinking about the next game already.”
Bolivia’s Rise up the Table
The victory proved an important one for Bolivia as it hoisted them into seventh position in the 10-nation South American standings. There is still much work to be done if they are to qualify for the World Cup, but for now, the victory lends them an important shot of confidence. Due to the expansion of the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams, South America has been allocated six automatic spots, plus a seventh-placed qualifying for an inter-confederation playoff.
A dream that is still alive, but all hopes are alive for Bolivia’s first World Cup appearance since 1994. It is consistency now that will play the key role. Replicate this home form in some of the forthcoming matches, and they could well have a realistic chance of fighting for a coveted spot.
Venezuela World Cup Hopes Still Alive
But despite this defeat, Venezuela are well-placed for their first-ever World Cup qualification. They now lie fourth in the standings with nine points from seven games behind Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia. Thursday’s defeat will be a setback, but Venezuela can still get up and running in the next round of fixtures.
Their next match, in front of their home fans against Uruguay, will be quite important regarding their qualifying pretensions. Despite the historical strength of Uruguay in South American football, it will be a very hard nut to crack; however, Venezuela have already proved resilient in matches away from home. Coach Fernando Batista was confident in his squad, underlining that attention is already centered on the forthcoming match.
Looking Ahead
This emphatic win is what Bolivia will seek to build on as they progress with their qualifying campaign. Given the advantage of playing at high altitude and this belief that is growing in this squad, they might prove a difficult opponent for their South American rivals. Upcoming fixtures should therefore be important in establishing whether they can maintain this pace and pursue qualification into the World Cup.
For Venezuela, the journey is far from over. Despite the defeat, their standing in the table keeps them in contention for a spot at the 2026 World Cup. A positive result against Uruguay could erase the disappointment of Thursday’s loss in a snap and keep their qualification hopes on track.
Final Thoughts
The 4-0 thrashing of Venezuela by Bolivia was a statement performance, and it showed just how capable the team can be in the World Cup qualifiers. Of course, playing in El Alto means everything will be to their advantage, which they leveraged to maximum effect. Venezuela might be down, but they’re not out, and that’s where the true test of their resilience will come in. Now, both teams look at the next stage of qualifying with everything to play for.