Bolivian national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Bolivia women's national football team.

Bolivia
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)La Verde (The Green)[1]
AssociationBolivian Football Federation (FBF)
ConfederationCONMEBOL (South America)
Head coachAntônio Carlos Zago
CaptainLuis Haquin
Most capsMarcelo Martins (108)
Top scorerMarcelo Martins (31)
Home stadiumEstadio Hernando Siles
FIFA codeBOL
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 86 Decrease 1 (15 February 2024)[2]
Highest18 (July 1997)
Lowest115 (October 2011)
First international
 Chile 7–1 Bolivia 
(Santiago, Chile; 12 October 1926)
Biggest win
 Bolivia 7–0 Venezuela 
(La Paz, Bolivia; 22 August 1993)
 Bolivia 9–2 Haiti 
(La Paz, Bolivia; 3 March 2000)
Biggest defeat
 Uruguay 9–0 Bolivia 
(Lima, Peru; 6 November 1927)
 Brazil 10–1 Bolivia 
(São Paulo, Brazil; 10 April 1949)
World Cup
Appearances3 (first in 1930)
Best resultGroup stage (1930, 1950, 1994)
Copa América
Appearances28 (first in 1926)
Best resultChampions (1963)
FIFA Confederations Cup
Appearances1 (first in 1999)
Best resultGroup stage (1999)
Medal record
Bolivarian Games
Silver medal – second place 1938 Bogotá Team

The Bolivia national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Bolivia), also known as La Verde, has represented Bolivia in international football since 1926. Organized by the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF),[A] it is one of the ten members of FIFA's South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL).

After playing in the 1930 and 1950 World Cups, they have qualified just once, in 1994, where they were eliminated in the group stage. Bolivia have never advanced past the first round of any World Cup, and have only scored one goal, in 1994. Despite their World Cup performances, Bolivia won the Copa América at home in 1963, and finished runners-up in 1997, which they also hosted. At the 2015 Copa América in Chile, they advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time since 1997, after defeating Ecuador 3–2. This also ended a winless streak in the Copa América, with their last win being on 28 June 1997, when they defeated Mexico 1–0 in the semi-finals.[5]

History

Photo of twelve men, seven standing and five crouching, inside a stadium
Bolivia national team at the 1930 FIFA World Cup before their match against Yugoslavia

Bolivia debuted in international football in 1926, one year after the Bolivian Football Federation was founded, and joined FIFA that same year. As participants at the 1926 South American Championship in Chile, Bolivia played their first match against the hosts on 12 October 1926, and even ended up scoring first against them, but wound up being defeated by the Chileans 7–1. Bolivia also lost their following three matches: 0–5 against Argentina, 1–6 against Paraguay and 0–6 against Uruguay.[6]

In 1930, Bolivia was one of the teams invited to the inaugural edition of the World Cup, held in Uruguay. Drawn in Group 2 of the 1930 World Cup, Bolivia lost both its games 4–0, first to Yugoslavia at the Estadio Parque Central, and then to Brazil in the Estadio Centenario.[7] The match versus the Yugoslavs would be the last match against non-South American opposition for Bolivia until 1972 – when they again met Yugoslavia.[8] They returned for the 1950 World Cup, where Argentina's withdrawal from the qualifiers gave Bolivia an automatic berth. With three teams declining to play in Brazil, Bolivia was put in a group of two along with Uruguay. The Bolivians' only game was an 8–0 defeat to Uruguay at the Estádio Independência in Belo Horizonte.[9]

The Bolivian squad that won its first and only Copa América title in 1963

Bolivia's greatest football achievement was the 1963 South American Championship title, which they hosted and won after placing first out of 7 countries, including being undefeated, with five wins and one draw. The only draw for Bolivia in the tournament was a 4–4 draw against Ecuador in the opening match. They also had the advantage of being better accustomed to higher altitudes.[10] In the following edition, the 1967 South American Championship, held in Uruguay, Bolivia finished last out of six teams, with one draw and four losses, which was far below what the public expected, as Bolivia had been the defending champion.

Afterwards, the country only started to resurge at an international level with the creation of the Academia Tahuichi Aguilera in Santa Cruz de la Sierra in 1978, a football school that developed players such as Marco Etcheverry, Erwin Sánchez and Luis Cristaldo.

Under Spanish coach Xabier Azkargorta and featuring nine players from Tahuichi, Bolivia surprisingly became the first team to beat Brazil in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers while playing them in La Paz, with a 2–0 win, and qualified for the 1994 World Cup by finishing second in Group B behind the Brazilians themselves, which included record 7–0 and 7–1 wins over Venezuela during their qualification campaign.[11]

Bolivia was drawn into the tournament's Group C, and played defending champions Germany in the tournament's opening match at Soldier Field. Bolivia played a great first half, outplaying Germany. In the second half, Lothar Matthäus took a 40-yard run and struck Marco "El Diablo" Etcheverry with a high elbow to his jaw. Etcheverry retaliated by fouling Matthäus and was sent off. Eventually, Bolivia lost on a controversial offside goal by Jürgen Klinsmann. Following a goalless draw with South Korea at Foxboro Stadium, where Bolivia was forced to play with ten men again after Cristaldo's red card, Bolivia returned to Chicago and lost 3–1 to Spain, with Sánchez scoring the first ever Bolivian goal in a World Cup.[12]

Following the World Cup, Bolivia participated in the 1995 Copa América held in Uruguay, with Antonio Lopez Habas as manager, where they made the quarter-finals for the first time since winning the competition in 1963, with one win, one draw, and one loss. In the quarter-finals, the nation lost to hosts Uruguay 2–1. Despite the decent performance the team displayed during the tournament, Lopez Habas left his post shortly before the 1997 Copa America, being replaced by Dušan Drašković. The 1997 edition was the second time Bolivia held the tournament. The team reached the final, as had happened last time Bolivia was the host, but this time they finished runner-up to reigning world champion Brazil after losing 3–1 in the final.[10]

Bolivia before a match against Ecuador during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers

With their runner-up finish at the previous Copa America, Bolivia made their first and only FIFA Confederations Cup appearance in the 1999 edition, this time under new Argentine manager Héctor Veira. Bolivia was placed in group A along with hosts Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Their campaign started with a 2–2 draw against Egypt. Their next match was a 0–0 draw against Saudi Arabia. For their last match in the group, they had to play hosts Mexico, in which Bolivia lost 0–1 with a goal from Francisco Palencia. Bolivia finished third in the group with two draws and a loss, being eliminated from the tournament in the first stage.

In the 2015 Copa América in Chile, under Bolivian manager Mauricio Soria, Bolivia were placed in Group A, with Chile, Mexico, and Ecuador. In their match against Mexico, Bolivia drew 0–0. However, against Ecuador, Bolivia won 3–2, with goals from Raldes, Smedberg-Dalence, and Moreno. From this victory against Ecuador, Bolivia made it to the next round, the quarter-finals, for the first time since the 1997 tournament, which they hosted.[13] Bolivia were defeated by Peru 1–3 in the quarter-finals of the tournament, and Bolivia's only goal of the game was a penalty in the last minutes of the match scored by Marcelo Moreno. In the next three Copa América editions, Bolivia performed poorly, losing all games in these tournaments.

In 2021, Bolivian Football Federation's new President, Fernando Costa Sarmiento, lamented the deteriorating condition of football in Bolivia and vowed to rebuild the country's football system. He accused the previous Presidents of mismanaging football as he aimed to reconstruct Bolivian football into a more professional manner.[14]

On 28 March 2023, Bolivia registered its first-ever away win against a World Cup team in the 21st century, a 2–1 over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah in a friendly.

Stadium

Bolivia plays their home matches at Estadio Hernando Siles, which has an altitude of 3,637 metres (11,932 ft) above sea level, making it one of the highest football stadiums in the world. Many visiting teams have protested that the altitude gives Bolivia an unfair advantage against opponents. On 27 May 2007, FIFA declared that no World Cup Qualifying matches could be played in stadiums above 8,200 feet (2,500 m) above sea level.[15] However, FIFA raised the altitude limit to 3,000 meters a month later after negative feedback against the ban, and included a special exception for La Paz, thus allowing the stadium to continue holding World Cup qualifying matches.[16] A year after the original ban, in May 2008, FIFA removed the altitude limit entirely.[17]

Team image

Kit history

Bolivia's first uniforms were all white. In the 1930 FIFA World Cup, before the match with Yugoslavia, Bolivia painted one of the letters in "Viva Uruguay" in each of the eleven starters' jerseys to please the local crowd. In the following game with Brazil, given the adversary also wore white, Bolivia instead borrowed Uruguay's own blue uniform to play. Bolivia again painted a message to the hosts in the 1945 South American Championship, with the players' jerseys reading "Viva Chile". In 1946, Bolivia changed their jersey colors to black and white stripes, like the colors of the Cochabamba region. FBF reverted to white the following year. In 1957, FBF decided to use one of the colors in the Flag of Bolivia. Given red and yellow were used by many of the other South Americans, green became the primary color, leading to the nickname "La Verde" ("The Green").[18]

Kit sponsorship

Kit supplier Period
Brazil Penalty 1977–1979
West Germany Adidas 1980–1982
Brazil Penalty 1983–1986
West Germany Adidas 1987–1988
Bolivia El Palacio de las Gorras 1989-1990
Germany Adidas 1991–1992
England Umbro 1993–1999
Mexico Atletica 2000–2005
Ecuador Marathon 2006–2010
Peru Walon 2011–2014
Ecuador Marathon 2015–present

Results and fixtures

Main article: Bolivia national football team results (2020–present)

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023

28 March Friendly Saudi Arabia  1–2  Bolivia Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
22:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Ahmed Issa (United Arab Emirates)
17 June Friendly Ecuador  1–0  Bolivia Harrison, United States
19:00 UTC−4
Report Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Referee: Victor Rivas (United States)
20 June Friendly Bolivia  0–0  Chile Santa Cruz, Bolivia
20:00 UTC−4 Report Stadium: Estadio Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera
Referee: José Argote (Venezuela)
27 August Friendly Bolivia  1–2  Panama Cochabamba, Bolivia
16:00 UTC−4
Report
Stadium: Estadio Félix Capriles
Referee: Pablo Echavarría (Argentina)
8 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Brazil  5–1  Bolivia Belém, Brazil
21:45 UTC−3
Report
Stadium: Mangueirão
Attendance: 43,188
Referee: Juan Benítez (Paraguay)
12 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Bolivia  0–3  Argentina La Paz, Bolivia
16:00 UTC−4 Report
Stadium: Estadio Hernando Siles
Attendance: 24,000
Referee: Esteban Ostojich (Uruguay)
12 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Bolivia  1–2  Ecuador La Paz, Bolivia
19:00 UTC−4
Report
Stadium: Estadio Hernando Siles
Attendance: 34,200
Referee: Cristian Garay (Chile)
17 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Paraguay  1–0  Bolivia Asunción, Paraguay
19:30 UTC−3
Report Stadium: Estadio Defensores del Chaco
Attendance: 30,681
Referee: Gustavo Tejera (Uruguay)
16 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Bolivia  2–0  Peru La Paz, Bolivia
16:00 UTC−4
Report Stadium: Estadio Hernando Siles
Attendance: 28,000
Referee: Guillermo Guerrero (Ecuador)
21 November 2026 World Cup qualification Uruguay  3–0  Bolivia Montevideo, Uruguay
20:30 UTC−3
Report Stadium: Estadio Centenario
Attendance: 46,100
Referee: Kevin Ortega (Peru)

2024

22 March 2024 FIFA Series Algeria  3–2  Bolivia Algiers, Algeria
22:00 UTC+1
Report
Stadium: Nelson Mandela Stadium
Referee: Abdel Aziz Bouh (Mauritania)
25 March 2024 FIFA Series Bolivia  1–0  Andorra Annaba, Algeria
22:00 UTC+1
Report Stadium: 19 May 1956 Stadium
Referee: Houssam Benyahia (Algeria)
31 May Friendly Mexico  v  Bolivia Chicago, United States
Stadium: Soldier Field
23 June 2024 Copa América United States  v  Bolivia Arlington, United States
17:00 UTC−5 Stadium: AT&T Stadium
27 June 2024 Copa América Uruguay  v  Bolivia East Rutherford, United States
21:00 UTC−4 Stadium: MetLife Stadium
1 July 2024 Copa América Bolivia  v  Panama Orlando, United States
21:00 UTC−4 Stadium: Exploria Stadium
September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Bolivia  v  Venezuela La Paz, Bolivia
--:-- UTC−4 Stadium: Estadio Hernando Siles
September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Chile  v  Bolivia Santiago, Chile
--:-- UTC−3 Stadium: Estadio Monumental David Arellano
October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Bolivia  v  Colombia La Paz, Bolivia
--:-- UTC−4 Stadium: Estadio Hernando Siles
October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Argentina  v  Bolivia Argentina
--:-- UTC−3
November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Ecuador  v  Bolivia Ecuador
--:-- UTC−5
November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Bolivia  v  Paraguay La Paz, Bolivia
--:-- UTC−4 Stadium: Estadio Hernando Siles

Coaching staff

As of 31 October 2023
Role Name
Technical Coach And Management Bolivia Julio César Baldivieso
Head coach Brazil Antônio Carlos Zago
Assistant coach Bolivia Yulio Barrero
Assistant coach Bolivia Guillermo Pino
Goalkeeper coach Bolivia Anderson Ortuño
Team Doctor Bolivia Yoaquín Fernández
Physiotherapist Bolivia Josemar Echevarría
Video Analyst Bolivia Jimmy Cabriles

Coaching history

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the friendly matches against Algeria and Andorra on 22 and 25 March 2024, respectively.[19]

Caps and goals updated as of 26 March 2024, after the game against Andorra.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Guillermo Viscarra (1993-02-07) 7 February 1993 (age 31) 19 0 Bolivia The Strongest
1GK David Akologo (1997-02-19) 19 February 1997 (age 27) 0 0 Bolivia Aurora
1GK Bruno Poveda (2003-10-22) 22 October 2003 (age 20) 0 0 Bolivia Wilstermann
2DF José Sagredo (1994-03-10) 10 March 1994 (age 30) 51 1 Bolivia Bolívar
2DF Adrián Jusino (1992-07-09) 9 July 1992 (age 31) 35 0 Bolivia The Strongest
2DF Roberto Fernández (1999-07-12) 12 July 1999 (age 24) 33 1 Russia Baltika Kaliningrad
2DF Luis Haquin (captain) (1997-11-15) 15 November 1997 (age 26) 33 1 Brazil Ponte Preta
2DF Diego Medina (2002-01-13) 13 January 2002 (age 22) 11 0 Bolivia Always Ready
2DF Marcelo Suárez (2001-08-29) 29 August 2001 (age 22) 7 0 Bolivia Always Ready
2DF Yomar Rocha (2003-06-21) 21 June 2003 (age 20) 2 0 Bolivia Bolívar
2DF Daniel Lino (2002-02-18) 18 February 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Bolivia The Strongest
3MF Rodrigo Ramallo (1990-10-14) 14 October 1990 (age 33) 39 7 Bolivia The Strongest
3MF Ramiro Vaca (1999-07-01) 1 July 1999 (age 24) 31 4 Bolivia Bolívar
3MF Moisés Villarroel (1998-09-07) 7 September 1998 (age 25) 26 1 Bolivia Guabirá
3MF Jaime Arrascaita (1993-09-02) 2 September 1993 (age 30) 17 1 Bolivia The Strongest
3MF Boris Céspedes (1995-06-19) 19 June 1995 (age 28) 15 1 Switzerland Yverdon-Sport
3MF Gabriel Villamil (2001-06-28) 28 June 2001 (age 22) 15 0 Ecuador LDU Quito
3MF Miguel Terceros (2004-04-25) 25 April 2004 (age 19) 9 0 Brazil Santos
3MF Robson Tomé (2002-05-18) 18 May 2002 (age 21) 1 0 Bolivia Always Ready
3MF Pablo Vaca (2002-05-31) 31 May 2002 (age 21) 1 0 Bolivia Always Ready
3MF Rafinha (1991-12-20) 20 December 1991 (age 32) 0 0 Bolivia Blooming
4FW Carmelo Algarañaz (1996-01-27) 27 January 1996 (age 28) 21 2 Bolivia Bolívar
4FW Jaume Cuéllar (2001-08-23) 23 August 2001 (age 22) 7 0 Spain Barcelona B
4FW Jair Reinoso (1985-06-07) 7 June 1985 (age 38) 4 0 Bolivia Aurora
4FW César Menacho (1999-08-09) 9 August 1999 (age 24) 2 0 Bolivia Blooming

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up during the last twelve months. Retired players are not included.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Carlos Lampe (1987-03-17) 17 March 1987 (age 37) 53 0 Bolivia Bolívar v.  Uruguay, 21 November 2023
GK Rubén Cordano (1998-10-16) 16 October 1998 (age 25) 5 0 Bolivia Oriente Petrolero v.  Uruguay, 21 November 2023
GK Braulio Uraezaña (1995-03-26) 26 March 1995 (age 29) 0 0 Bolivia Blooming v.  Paraguay, 17 October 2023
GK Fabián Pereira (2006-05-15) 15 May 2006 (age 17) 0 0 Bolivia Always Ready Microcycle, 23–29 September 2023
GK Mauricio Adorno (2001-04-03) 3 April 2001 (age 22) 0 0 Bolivia Nacional Potosí v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
DF Diego Bejarano (1991-08-24) 24 August 1991 (age 32) 46 3 Bolivia Oriente Petrolero v.  Uruguay, 21 November 2023
DF Jairo Quinteros (2001-02-07) 7 February 2001 (age 23) 22 0 Bolivia Bolívar v.  Uruguay, 21 November 2023
DF Héctor Cuéllar (2000-08-16) 16 August 2000 (age 23) 6 0 Bolivia Always Ready v.  Uruguay, 21 November 2023
DF Denilson Durán (2003-03-24) 24 March 2003 (age 21) 0 0 Bolivia Blooming v.  Uruguay, 21 November 2023
DF Jesús Sagredo (1994-03-10) 10 March 1994 (age 30) 8 0 Bolivia Bolívar v.  Paraguay, 17 October 2023
DF Carlos Roca (1997-05-11) 11 May 1997 (age 26) 7 0 Bolivia The Strongest v.  Paraguay, 17 October 2023
DF Eduardo Álvarez (2003-04-09) 9 April 2003 (age 20) 0 0 Bolivia Royal Pari v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
DF Efrain Morales (2004-03-04) 4 March 2004 (age 20) 0 0 United States Atlanta United v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
DF César Romero (2001-08-03) 3 August 2001 (age 22) 0 0 Bolivia Blooming v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
DF Saúl Severiche (2002-05-17) 17 May 2002 (age 21) 0 0 Bolivia Blooming v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
DF Jairo Velasco (2002-03-08) 8 March 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Bolivia Guabirá v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
MF Leonel Justiniano (1992-07-02) 2 July 1992 (age 31) 49 2 Bolivia Bolívar v.  Uruguay, 21 November 2023
MF Danny Bejarano (1994-01-03) 3 January 1994 (age 30) 32 0 Cyprus Nea Salamis v.  Uruguay, 21 November 2023
MF Jeyson Chura (2002-02-03) 3 February 2002 (age 22) 8 0 Bolivia The Strongest v.  Uruguay, 21 November 2023
MF Julio Herrera (1999-02-11) 11 February 1999 (age 25) 1 0 Bolivia Always Ready v.  Uruguay, 21 November 2023
MF Henry Vaca (1998-01-27) 27 January 1998 (age 26) 20 1 Bolivia Bolívar v.  Uruguay, 21 November 2023 SUS
MF Javier Uzeda (2002-07-31) 31 July 2002 (age 21) 0 0 Bolivia Bolívar Microcycle, 23–29 September 2023
MF Miguel Villarroel (2003-01-10) 10 January 2003 (age 21) 0 0 Bolivia Bolívar Microcycle, 23–29 September 2023
MF Fernando Saucedo (1990-03-15) 15 March 1990 (age 34) 21 1 Bolivia Bolívar v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
MF Luciano Ursino (1988-10-31) 31 October 1988 (age 35) 7 1 Bolivia The Strongest v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
MF Carlos Abastoflor (2002-04-09) 9 April 2002 (age 21) 0 0 Bolivia Always Ready v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
MF Andrés Moreno (2002-10-09) 9 October 2002 (age 21) 0 0 Bolivia Royal Pari v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
MF Marco Salazar (2004-10-14) 14 October 2004 (age 19) 0 0 Bolivia Always Ready v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
MF Kevin Salvatierra (2001-08-05) 5 August 2001 (age 22) 0 0 Bolivia Oriente Petrolero v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
MF Carlos Sejas (2004-01-10) 10 January 2004 (age 20) 0 0 Bolivia Aurora v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
MF Ervin Vaca (2004-03-18) 18 March 2004 (age 20) 0 0 Bolivia Bolívar v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
MF Daniel Rojas (2004-01-10) 10 January 2004 (age 20) 1 0 Bolivia The Strongest v.  Panama, 27 August 2023
MF Adalid Terrazas (2000-08-25) 25 August 2000 (age 23) 0 0 Bolivia Always Ready v.  Panama, 27 August 2023
MF Álvaro Quiroga (1995-06-17) 17 June 1995 (age 28) 1 0 Bolivia The Strongest v.  Chile, 20 June 2023
FW Marcelo Martins RET (1987-06-18) 18 June 1987 (age 36) 108 31 Brazil Cruzeiro v.  Uruguay, 21 November 2023
FW Bruno Miranda (1998-02-10) 10 February 1998 (age 26) 16 2 Bolivia The Strongest v.  Uruguay, 21 November 2023
FW Víctor Ábrego (1997-02-11) 11 February 1997 (age 27) 15 2 Morocco Raja Casablanca v.  Paraguay, 17 October 2023
FW Lucas Chávez (2003-04-17) 17 April 2003 (age 20) 1 0 Bolivia Bolívar v.  Paraguay, 17 October 2023
FW José Martines (2002-09-18) 18 September 2002 (age 21) 1 0 Bolivia Always Ready Microcycle, 23–29 September 2023
FW Enzo Monteiro (2004-05-27) 27 May 2004 (age 19) 1 0 Brazil Santos U20 v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
FW Fernando Nava (2004-06-08) 8 June 2004 (age 19) 1 0 Brazil Santos U20 v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
FW José Alipaz (2003-04-06) 6 April 2003 (age 20) 0 0 Bolivia Universitario de Vinto v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
FW José Briceño (2002-01-20) 20 January 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Bolivia Vaca Díez v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023
FW Fabricio Quaglio (2003-07-30) 30 July 2003 (age 20) 0 0 Bolivia The Strongest v.  Argentina, 12 September 2023

COV Withdrew from the squad due to COVID-19.
INJ Withdrew from the squad due to injury.
PRE Preliminary squad / standby.
RET Retired from the national team.
SUS Withdrew from the squad due to suspension.

Player records

Main article: Bolivia national football team records and statistics
As of 21 November 2023[20]
Players in bold are still active with Bolivia.

Most appearances

Marcelo Moreno is Bolivia's most-capped player with 108 caps and all-time top scorer with 31 goals.
Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 Marcelo Moreno 108 31 2007–2023
2 Ronald Raldes 102 3 2001–2018
3 Luis Cristaldo 93 5 1989–2005
Marco Sandy 93 6 1993–2003
5 José Milton Melgar 89 6 1980–1997
6 Juan Carlos Arce 88 15 2004–2022
Carlos Fernando Borja 88 1 1979–1995
8 Julio César Baldivieso 85 15 1991–2005
Juan Manuel Peña 85 1 1991–2009
10 Miguel Rimba 80 0 1989–2000

Most goals

Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Marcelo Moreno 31 108 0.29 2007–2023
2 Joaquín Botero 20 48 0.42 1999–2009
3 Victor Ugarte 16 45 0.36 1947–1963
4 Carlos Aragonés 15 31 0.48 1977–1981
Erwin Sánchez 15 57 0.26 1989–2005
Julio César Baldivieso 15 85 0.18 1991–2005
Juan Carlos Arce 15 88 0.17 2004–2022
8 Máximo Alcócer 13 22 0.59 1953–1963
Marco Etcheverry 13 71 0.18 1989–2003
10 Miguel Aguilar 10 34 0.29 1977–1983

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

Main article: Bolivia at the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Group stage 12th 2 0 0 2 0 8 Squad Qualified as invitees
Italy 1934 Did not enter Declined participation
France 1938
Brazil 1950 Group stage 13th 1 0 0 1 0 8 Squad Qualified automatically
Switzerland 1954 Did not enter Declined participation
Sweden 1958 Did not qualify 4 2 0 2 6 6
Chile 1962 2 0 1 1 2 3
England 1966 4 1 0 3 4 9
Mexico 1970 4 2 0 2 5 6
West Germany 1974 4 0 0 4 1 11
Argentina 1978 8 3 1 4 10 25
Spain 1982 4 1 0 3 5 6
Mexico 1986 4 0 2 2 2 7
Italy 1990 4 3 0 1 6 5
United States 1994 Group stage 21st 3 0 1 2 1 4 Squad 8 5 1 2 22 11
France 1998 Did not qualify 16 4 5 7 18 21
South Korea Japan 2002 18 4 6 8 21 33
Germany 2006 18 4 2 12 20 37
South Africa 2010 18 4 3 11 22 36
Brazil 2014 16 2 6 8 17 30
Russia 2018 18 4 2 12 16 38
Qatar 2022 18 4 3 11 23 42
Canada Mexico United States 2026 Qualification in progress 6 1 0 5 4 14
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total Group stage 3/22 6 0 1 5 1 20 — 174 44 32 98 204 340

Copa América

Main article: Bolivia at the Copa América

  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place  

South American Championship / Copa América record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad
Argentina 1916 Not a CONMEBOL member
Uruguay 1917
Brazil 1919
Chile 1920
Argentina 1921
Brazil 1922
Uruguay 1923
Uruguay 1924
Argentina 1925
Chile 1926 Fifth place 5th 4 0 0 4 2 24 Squad
Peru 1927 Fourth place 4th 3 0 0 3 3 19 Squad
Argentina 1929 Did not participate
Peru 1935
Argentina 1937
Peru 1939
Chile 1941
Uruguay 1942
Chile 1945 Sixth place 6th 6 0 2 4 3 16 Squad
Argentina 1946 Sixth place 6th 5 0 0 5 4 23 Squad
Ecuador 1947 Seventh place 7th 7 0 2 5 6 21 Squad
Brazil 1949 Fourth place 4th 7 4 0 3 13 24 Squad
Peru 1953 Sixth place 6th 6 1 1 4 6 15 Squad
Chile 1955 Did not participate
Uruguay 1956
Peru 1957
Argentina 1959 Seventh place 7th 6 0 1 5 4 23 Squad
Ecuador 1959 Withdrew
Bolivia 1963 Champions 1st 6 5 1 0 19 13 Squad
Uruguay 1967 Sixth place 6th 5 0 1 4 0 9 Squad
1975 Group stage 8th 4 1 0 3 3 9 Squad
1979 6th 4 2 0 2 4 7 Squad
1983 8th 4 0 2 2 4 6 Squad
Argentina 1987 7th 2 0 1 1 0 2 Squad
Brazil 1989 9th 4 0 2 2 0 8 Squad
Chile 1991 9th 4 0 2 2 2 7 Squad
Ecuador 1993 10th 3 0 2 1 1 2 Squad
Uruguay 1995 Quarter-finals 8th 4 1 1 2 5 6 Squad
Bolivia 1997 Runners-up 2nd 6 5 0 1 10 5 Squad
Paraguay 1999 Group stage 9th 3 0 2 1 1 2 Squad
Colombia 2001 11th 3 0 0 3 0 7 Squad
Peru 2004 9th 3 0 2 1 3 4 Squad
Venezuela 2007 10th 3 0 2 1 4 5 Squad
Argentina 2011 12th 3 0 1 2 1 5 Squad
Chile 2015 Quarter-finals 8th 4 1 1 2 4 10 Squad
United States 2016 Group stage 14th 3 0 0 3 2 7 Squad
Brazil 2019 12th 3 0 0 3 2 9 Squad
Brazil 2021 10th 4 0 0 4 2 10 Squad
United States 2024 Qualified
Total 1 Title 28/47 119 20 26 73 108 298 —

FIFA Confederations Cup

FIFA Confederations Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad
Saudi Arabia 1992 Did not qualify
Saudi Arabia 1995
Saudi Arabia 1997
Mexico 1999 Group stage 6th 3 0 2 1 2 3 Squad
South Korea Japan 2001 Did not qualify
France 2003
Germany 2005
South Africa 2009
Brazil 2013
Russia 2017
Total Group stage 1/10 3 0 2 1 2 3 —

Pan American Games

Pan American Games record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Argentina 1951 Did not participate
Mexico 1955
United States 1959
Brazil 1963
Canada 1967
Colombia 1971
Mexico 1975 Round 2 6th 5 2 0 3 4 14
Puerto Rico 1979 Did not participate
Venezuela 1983
United States 1987
Cuba 1991
Argentina 1995
Since 1999 See Bolivia national under-23 football team
Total Round 2 1/12 5 2 0 3 4 14

Honours

Official

South American tournaments

  • Copa Paz del Chaco[21] (vs  Paraguay):
    • Winners (4): 1957, 1962, 1979, 1993
  • Copa Mariscal Sucre[22] (vs  Peru):
    • Winners (1): 1973 (shared)

Olympic and Pan American team

Notes

  1. ^ The acronym FBF comes from the organization's Spanish name, Federación Boliviana de Fútbol.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Famous Bolivian Footballers". Your Spanish Translation. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  2. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  3. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b "World Football Elo Ratings: Bolivia". eloratings.net. World Football Elo Ratings. 29 January 2018. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Ecuador 2 − Bolivia 3". Univision futbol. 15 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Historia de Nuestro Fútbol, Capítulo 2. Nacen la FBF y la Selección 1925-1926". 11 February 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Bolivia en la Copa del Mundo, Capítulo 1. Uruguay 1930". 12 June 2014. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Bolivia- International Results". Archived from the original on 28 April 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Bolivia en la Copa del Mundo, Capítulo 2. Brasil 1950". 13 July 2014. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Ca2011.com". www77.ca2011.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  11. ^ "TAHUICHI HISTORY". Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  12. ^ 1994 FIFA World Cup Technical Report (p. 133)
  13. ^ "Grupo A: Bolivia derrota 3-2 a Ecuador y acaricia los cuartos". Conmebol.com. 15 June 2015. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015.
  14. ^ "Fernando Costa: "A reconstruir el fútbol" - JORNADA". Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  15. ^ AP (29 May 2007). "Anger Echoes in South America After FIFA Bans Games at Altitude". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  16. ^ "FIFA excludes La Paz from altitude ban - report". Reuters. 29 June 2007. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Fifa suspends ban on high-altitude football". the Guardian. 28 May 2008. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  18. ^ "World Cup Kits: When Bolivia wore Uruguayan shirts to ingratiate fans". Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  19. ^ "Selección: estos son los convocados por Zago para los amistosos con Argelia y Andorra". Opinión Bolivia (in Spanish). 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  20. ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Bolivia - Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Copa Paz del Chaco". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Copa Mariscal Sucre". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.

External links

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