Bolivia move to stadium 2,000 FEET higher in bizarre bid to qualify for World Cup 2026
BOLIVIA have moved to a stadium 2,000 FEET higher in altitude in a bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The South American nation have always been difficult to beat at home due to their ground in La Paz being 11,940 feet above sea level.
But three defeats in five games in World Cup qualifying left them in dire need of a result.
They sat second bottom of the 10-team table – prompting a major decision by the Bolivian FA.
In September, they decided to switch their final five home matches to the Villa Ingenio stadium in El Alto.
This is 13,615 feet above sea level – nearly 2,000 feet higher than their usual venue in La Paz.
They also appointed a new manager, Oscar Villegas, following the sacking of Antonio Carlos Zago in July after a disappointing Copa America.
And it seems to have worked.
After a 2-1 win away at Chile, they then beat Colombia 1-0 in El Alto on Thursday to move up to sixth in the table – the final automatic qualification spot for the World Cup.
They have not qualified for a World Cup since the US last hosted it 30 years ago.
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Following the decision to switch grounds, new head coach Villegas revealed it “is going to help us a lot”.
He said: “Soccer is made of details. It does not mean that with this [changing stadiums] we are going to win.
“We are trying to take care of details that can allow us to be more effective.
“In El Alto, we are going to try to be as intense as possible and to let them know that they are on a new pitch where we have been unbeatable.
“The psychological and emotional aspect also plays a role, it is something that is going to help us a lot.”
Bolivia‘s final four home games are against Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil.