Bolivia fight for survival v Suriname: World Cup dream after 32 years | OneFootball

Bolivia faces a historic moment this Thursday. In the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup Playoffs, the Altiplano side will take on Suriname aiming to move just one step away from the biggest stage in North America.

Match details

The match will kick off at 7:00 p.m. (Argentina time) at BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico. Australian referee Alireza Faghani will be in charge on the field, and the game will be broadcast live on DSports.

“La Verde’s” path and the weight of history

Bolivia reaches this stage after a strong campaign in the South American Qualifiers, where it finished seventh with 20 points. That performance allowed it to finish ahead of direct rivals such as Venezuela, Peru, and Chile, keeping alive the dream of returning to a World Cup after more than three decades away (its last appearance was at the 1994 United States World Cup).

If it secures qualification, it would be the country’s fourth World Cup appearance, having previously taken part in Uruguay 1930, Brazil 1950, and the aforementioned 1994 tournament, although it is still looking to break the streak and claim its first win in the final stage of a World Cup.

The opponent and what comes next

On the other side is Suriname, one of Concacaf’s surprises. The Caribbean team secured a dramatic place in the Playoffs after finishing second in Group A, edging out Honduras only on goals scored in the third round.

What happens if Bolivia wins? The winner of this tie will advance to the final of the bracket, where Iraq is already waiting. That decisive match will be played next March 31, also in the city of Monterrey.

South American schedule: high-profile friendlies for Brazil and Colombia

While Bolivia fights for its place, other regional powers that have already qualified will use the FIFA window to face top European opponents:

These matchups represent top-level preparation for Brazil and Colombia, setting them apart from Argentina’s current schedule during this international window.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.