Uruguay vs Bolivia

Uruguay and Bolivia are set to lock horns at the Estadio Centenario in a lopsided 2022 World Cup qualifying showdown.

Uruguay couldn’t have hoped for a better start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign following an underwhelming group-stage exit in Qatar last year. Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure has been off to an impressive beginning, with the Uruguayans registering back-to-back wins against Argentina and Brazil for the first time since 1959! Bielsa’s side won both meetings via an identical 2-0 scoreline after netting on either side of halftime, including a stunning victory in Buenos Aires that moved them to second in the CONMEBOL standings (W3, D1, L1). Brimming with confidence, ‘La Celeste’ have won their last four World Cup qualifiers on home turf and could make it five on the trot for the first time since November 2016.

On the other hand, Bolivia’s hopes of securing their fourth appearance at the World Cup finals – first since 1994 – were crashing down following a four-game losing start to their qualifying campaign before a 2-0 home win over Peru last time out reignited their qualification quest. Thanks to the new expanded format, ‘La Verde’ commence this round only two points adrift of an automatic qualification spot. However, they’ve performed woefully on the road, going winless in every World Cup qualifier away from home this century, including eight consecutive defeats in the build-up to this trip, seven of which saw them concede 3+ goals. Interestingly, their last three visits to Uruguay have seen them lose by the same 4-2 scoreline.