World Cup 2026: Bolivia secures spot in playoffs; see how the tournament works

The 1-0 victory over Brazil, combined with Venezuela’s 6-3 loss to Colombia, secured Bolivia a spot in the international playoffs of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Now, the Bolivian team will face a potentially challenging path to secure one of the last two spots in the tournament. In this edition of the World Cup, the first with 48 teams, the playoffs will feature six teams who will compete in a single-elimination tournament in North America, with the venues yet to be determined. The six qualified teams for the playoffs will be divided into two groups of three teams. In each group, the highest-ranked team according to the FIFA ranking will advance directly to the final, while the other two teams will face off in a semifinal. The final of each group will determine which team earns a spot in the World Cup. Each confederation has one spot in the playoffs, with the exception of Concacaf (North, Central, and Caribbean Americas), which has two spots as the host, and UEFA (Europe), which has none. The playoffs will take place during the FIFA window from March 23 to 31, just over three months before the World Cup. Alongside Bolivia, New Caledonia has also secured a spot, representing the OFC (Oceania).