Bolivia were one of the 13 teams in the inaugural World Cup in 1930. Bolivia have attended the FIFA world cup on two other occasions: in 1950 and 1994. On each occasion they did not progress past the group stage. They have not won a game; in their six matches they have played they drew one and lost the others.

Bolivia went closest to ending that long absence in the qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup, only to fall at the last hurdle of the inter-confederation play-offs.

2026 World Cup Qualifying

The expansion of the 2026 tournament to 48 teams handed South America six automatic places, with the seventh-placed team going into an inter-confederation play-off. Bolivia grabbed that seventh spot on the final matchday of CONMEBOL qualifying, beating Brazil 1-0 at the Estadio Municipal de El Alto on 9 September 2025, more than 4,000 metres above sea level. Miguel Terceros scored the only goal from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time.

The play-off tournament was staged in Mexico in March 2026. Bolivia came from behind to beat Suriname 2-1 in their semi-final on 26 March, but lost the deciding match 2-1 to Iraq at the Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe on 31 March 2026. Ali Al-Hamadi headed Iraq in front after 10 minutes, Moises Paniagua levelled for Bolivia on 38 minutes, and Aymen Hussein restored the Iraqi lead in the 53rd minute. Iraq took the World Cup place, and Bolivia's wait for a fourth appearance at the finals goes on.

Trivia

  • The only Bolivian goal at a FIFA World Cup was scored by Erwin Sánchez during their 1-3 defeat against Spain in 1994.
  • Bolivia have not played at a World Cup since 1994. Their 2026 play-off run was the closest they have come to returning in more than three decades.
  • The 1-0 win over Brazil in September 2025 that sent Bolivia to the play-offs also condemned Brazil to their worst-ever World Cup qualifying campaign.