Bolivia beat Brazil to reach playoff as CONMEBOL seals six berths

Bolivia stunned Brazil 1-0 in La Paz on Tuesday to clinch a place in the intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the final South American qualifying window confirmed six automatic CONMEBOL berths and reshaped several narratives ahead of next summer’s expanded tournament. The result and a separate defeat for Argentina capped a dramatic international break that also saw FIFA open initial World Cup ticketing and a climate study warn of heat risks at many host venues.

Miguel Terceros converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time at Estadio Municipal El Alto to give Bolivia the lead they held to the final whistle, according to match reports. Brazil goalkeeper Alisson produced late saves to deny further damage but could not prevent La Verde finishing seventh in CONMEBOL and moving on to the intercontinental playoff, to be staged in March in Monterrey and Guadalajara, organisers said. Venezuela’s heavy loss to Colombia left the Vinotinto short of the playoff spot.

Argentina’s 1-0 defeat in Guayaquil to Ecuador, a match in which Nicolas Otamendi was sent off in the 31st minute and Enner Valencia converted a first-half penalty, rounded out South America’s...