Alexis Sánchez apologizes: Chile out of the 2026 World Cup after defeat

Chile Out of the World Cup for the Third Consecutive Time

The Chilean national team will miss its third consecutive World Cup after falling 2-0 to Bolivia on Tuesday, finishing in last place in the South American competition of ten teams. Bolivia, for its part, keeps alive its hopes of a place in the intercontinental play-off, seeking to reach the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The top six teams in the South American standings will obtain direct spots for the World Cup. Argentina, the current champion, is already qualified. Chile’s golden generation, which won two Copa América titles (2015 and 2016), is out of the running for next summer’s expanded 48-team tournament.

“Sad, I feel bad. I never experienced anything like this. We have to apologize to the people,” declared Chilean striker Alexis Sánchez after the match. “We have to keep working. There’s already change, the golden generation is buried, I’m the only one left.”

Alexis Sánchez

Bolivia scored the first goal with Miguel Terceros in the fifth minute and added a second in the 90th with Enzo Monteiro at the El Alto stadium, 4,150 meters high, on the outskirts of La Paz. The home team now has 17 points, putting pressure on Venezuela, which has 18 and will play later against Uruguay. Both are fighting for seventh place, which secures the intercontinental playoff spot. Colombia, in sixth place, has 21 points. Ecuador can secure its place with one more victory later against Peru. Brazil and Paraguay, who will face each other in Sao Paulo, can also secure their ticket if they win and Venezuela loses in Montevideo. Also, on Tuesday Argentina received Colombia. Bolivia’s future will be decided in September in Colombia and at home against Brazil.