Bolivia will look for a first win of the World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign on Thursday, when they welcome Ecuador to La Paz.
The hosts have lost their opening two matches in qualifying, while their visitors also sit without a point due to a deduction, despite picking up an impressive win in their second outing in September.
Match preview
© Reuters
Bolivia began their latest World Cup qualifying bid in September with the aim of triumphing on their continent and advancing for the first time since 1994, having finished ninth in the last qualifying campaign of its kind for the 2022 tournament.
In that run, La Verde eventually finished ninth in the 10-nation South American group with just 15 points on the board from their 18 outings, with Cesar Farias's tenure as manager ending in the aftermath at the end of last March.
Defeats to Senegal, Peru and Uzbekistan in friendlies then followed, before Gustavo Costas recorded a first win as new manager against Saudi Arabia, only for his side to head into the new campaign on the back of further friendly defeats to Ecuador and Panama either side of a draw with Chile.
Aiming to end their tough run of international form and stake a stronger claim in this campaign, La Verde began with an unenviable trip to Brazil in September and suffered a 5-1 beating, with Victor Abrego's second-half goal nothing more than a consolation as Rodrygo and Neymar hit braces for the hosts and Raphinha also found the net, before their wait for a first point continued in the second game, losing 3-0 at home to World Cup champions Argentina with Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Tagliafico and Nicolas Gonzalez getting on the scoresheet.
Despite their points and wins column being empty at this early stage, Bolivia can certainly not be too disheartened after difficult tests against two of the continent's strongest nations, and they will now be desperate to correct their form with a triumph when they welcome Ecuador to La Paz.
© Reuters
Their visitors also travel hoping to move off zero points, despite having already picked up a qualifying victory, as they took a three-point hit at the start of the campaign.
After missing out on the 2018 World Cup, La Tri returned to the global stage in Qatar last year, making the group stage in Qatar in 2022 and bowing out after managing four points from their three games, before turning their focus to the new qualifying bid and heading in on the back foot with a three-point deduction, due to issues with the records of a player in the previous cycle.
On the back of three straight victories under the new management of Felix Sanchez in friendlies against Australia, Bolivia and Costa Rica, with Enner Valencia netting the only goal in the meeting with Thursday's opponents in June, La Tri began with a difficult trip to world champions Argentina and fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat despite a valiant effort, as Lionel Messi netted the only goal of the game 12 minutes from time.
Aiming to quickly bounce back and get up and running, Sanchez's men then hosted Uruguay in their second outing in September and succeeded in scratching off their minus points tally with a 2-1 triumph, initially going behind to an Agustin Canobbio goal before Felix Torres scored on the stroke of half time and on the hour mark to seal victory for his nation.
Now with confidence to take from both of their first two outings, Ecuador will travel to La Paz with a second straight win in their sights as they look to quickly bridge the gap to the leading pack and bid to reach a second straight World Cup.
Team News
© Reuters
Gustavo Costas has called up a strong Bolivia squad for their October qualifiers, although he will be unable to call on defender Roberto Fernandez, who is suspended after being sent off in their defeat to Argentina last time out.
In his absence, Hector Cuellar and Luis Haquin will both battle to come into the defence, while Jairo Quinteros, Adrian Jusino and Jose Sagredo could again line up in the middle of the back five.
At the other end of the pitch, veteran captain Marcelo Moreno will continue to lead the line, having notched up 31 international goals in his 104 caps, with Victor Abrego and Rodrigo Ramallo battling to join him while Leonel Justiniano, Ramiro Vaca, Moises Villarroel and Danny Bejarano are all vying for midfield spots after Gabriel Villamil, Luciano Ursino and Jaime Arrascaita were fielded against Argentina.
Ecuador are bound to field a similar starting XI to the one that featured in their victory over Uruguay last month, although they are without key defender Pervis Estupinan, with the Brighton & Hove Albion full-back having sustained a long-term injury while with his club.
Jose Hurtado will likely take his place on the left-hand side of their back five, while Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Piero Hincapie should come into the middle of the back five alongside Felix Torres and Willian Pacho in Robert Arboleda's absence.
Further forward, Chelsea summer signing Moises Caicedo is a key man in midfield alongside 16-year-old starlet Kendry Paez, who should again start after earning his debut last time out, while captain Enner Valencia will continue to spearhead the attack, having netted a nation-high tally of 40 goals in his 81 caps for La Tri.
Bolivia possible starting lineup:
Viscarra; Diego Bejarano, Quinteros, Jusino, Sagredo, Haquin; Justiniano, Vaca, Villarroel; Ramallo, Moreno
Ecuador possible starting lineup:
Galindez; Preciado, Torres, Hincapie, Pacho, Hurtado; Gruezo, Caicedo, Perez; Valencia, Rodriguez
We say: Bolivia 1-2 Ecuador
While we expect Bolivia to be competitive, with their opening two defeats coming against unenviable opposition, Ecuador boast the stronger squad and have a degree of momentum on their side, and we fancy them to get over the line in La Paz and make it back-to-back qualifying wins to get their points tally into the positive.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
Argentina
Uruguay
Ecuador
Colombia
Brazil
Paraguay
Bolivia
Venezuela
Chile
Peru
