2-1. Bolivia comes from behind to beat Suriname and will face Iraq for a spot in the World Cup.
Monterrey, Mexico, (EFE)
Bolivia’s national team came from behind to defeat Suriname in Monterrey, Mexico, in the intercontinental playoff for the 2026 World Cup, putting them one win away from qualifying.
Moisés Paniagua and Miguel Teceros scored for Bolivia after Suriname had taken the lead with a goal from Liam Van Gelderen.
Bolivia dominated possession 68-32 in the first half, with both teams creating chances but lacking accuracy.
Suriname came close to opening the scoring in the 28th minute when Gyrano Kerk broke down the wing and crossed to Joel Piroe, whose shot went wide.
Enzo Monteiro reached the penalty area with everything in his favor in the 32nd minute and shot wide, after a pass from Ronson Matheus, in the best play of the Bolivians, who suffered in the last 15 minutes of the first half.
Kerk, Suriname’s best player, created danger again in the 34th minute with an assist to Piroe. The defense deflected it for a corner and kept the score at 0-0 in the goal defended by Guillermo Viscarra, who saved Bolivia in the 35th minute, deflecting a shot from Myenty Abena towards the net.
Suriname took the lead at the start of the second half; Van Gelderen recovered a loose ball after a series of rebounds and tapped it in with his right foot for 0-1.
The match continued with interruptions; Bolivia was patient, improved, and in the 72nd minute equalized with a goal from Paniagua at the base of the post, making it 1-1. After that, ‘La Verde’ grew in confidence against a Surinamese side that showed signs of fatigue.
Myenty Abena committed a foul in the area, conceding a penalty which Terceros converted with his left foot in the 79th minute, giving his team the victory.
When Suriname was winning, its players feigned fouls to waste time. Bolivia did the same when they took the lead, resulting in 10 minutes of added time that passed with little football on display; the Bolivians were well-organized defensively, while the Surinamese were exhausted.
Bolivia, which last played in a World Cup in the 1994 edition in the United States, will face Iraq next Tuesday for a place in the World Cup.
The winner will play in Group I against France, Senegal, and Norway.
– Match details:
2. Bolivia: Guillermo Viscarra; Efraín Morales, Luis Haquín, Roberto Fernández, Diego Medina; Gabriel Villamil, Héctor Cuéllar (Moisés Paniagua m.72), Robson Matheus (Ervin Vaca m.89); Ramiro Vaca (Diego Arroyo m.89), Miguel Terceros, Enzo Monteiros (Juan Godoy m.74).
Coach: Óscar Villegas.
1. Suriname: Etienne Vaessen; Myenty Abena, Stefano Denswill (Sheraldo Becker, 84′), Liam Van Gelderen (Denzel Jubitanan, 86′); Shaquille Pinas (Anfernee Dijksteel, 70′), Jean-Paul Boëtius (Radino Balker, 46′), Melayro Bogarde (Dion Malone, 84′), Djavan Anderson, Tjaronn Chery; Gyrano Kerk, Joel Piroe.
Coach: Henk Ten Cate.
Goals: 0-1, 48′: Liam Van Gelderen; 1-1, 72′: Moisés Paniagua; 2-1, 79′: Miguel Terceros, penalty.
Referee: Alireza Faghani, Australia. Yellow cards: Ramiro Vaca, Miguel Terceros, Luis Haquín; Jean-Paul Boëtius, Melayro Bogarde, Shaquille Pinas and Anfernee Dijksteel.
Incidents: Intercontinental playoff match for the 2026 World Cup between the national teams of Bolivia and Suriname played at the BBVA stadium in Monterrey, northern Mexico, before some 33,500 fans.
