🤯 Former striker could come out of retirement to play at the 2026 World Cup | OneFootball

Absent from a World Cup since competing in 1994, Bolivia, Brazil's rival this Tuesday (9), still dreams of ending this drought.

If they secure a spot in the playoffs (see more below) and then qualify for the 2026 World Cup, La Verde could have an "unexpected" reinforcement for the tournament in Canada, the United States, and Mexico: Marcelo Moreno, now 38 years old.

A record holder in goals (31) and matches (108) wearing the Bolivian jersey, the former striker officially retired in April last year, when he was honored by Cruzeiro.

He had already stopped representing his country in November 2023, bidding farewell against Uruguay in the current Qualifiers.

But the possibility of playing in the World Cup would change everything.

"If Bolivia goes to the World Cup, I'll try to do everything, but I'll come back to play. My dream, man. My dream has to be fulfilled on the field, playing in the World Cup," he told Uol.

One of the 31 goals was scored against the Brazilian National Team, their upcoming rival.

A goal that contributed to Brazil's last defeat in the matchup, the 2-1 in the 2010 Qualifiers.

"And that great goal I scored against the Brazilian national team was from a free-kick, it wasn't very close, so I said, no, I'll just get it over the wall and the ball will go to the corner by itself. And that's what happened. It was a great goal. It was in Julio César's corner, who was the goalkeeper. I think he didn't even react because it was a perfect free-kick and the ball too, the altitude helped it to drop. In fact, it dropped quickly. It dropped right in the corner".

The calculations for 🇧🇴

La Verde is competing with Venezuela, the only South American team that has never played in a World Cup, for the playoff spot.

They have 17 points against Vinotinto's 18, which is currently in seventh place.

They need to beat Brazil in El Alto and hope for a slip-up by Venezuela against Colombia in Maturín.

Both matches will kick off at 8:30 PM (Brasília time).

See which games will be played in the final round here.

Before 1994, Bolivia participated in the 1930 and 1950 editions. They stayed in the group stage in all.

How does the playoff work❓

Only New Caledonia, representing Oceania, is already guaranteed.

There are still five spots remaining: two for North/Central America, one from Africa, one from Asia, and another that will be for Venezuela or Bolivia.

The two teams with the best FIFA Ranking go directly to the final phase.

The others will play two semifinals after matchups determined by a draw.

The qualifiers will face the already guaranteed teams in two finals.

Determining the last teams guaranteed in the World Cup.

The six games will be played during the FIFA Date window from March 23 to 31 next year.

The tendency is for them to take place in one of the countries hosting the World Cup.

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

📸 DANTE FERNANDEZ