Bolivia faces Iraq on Tuesday, March 31, at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, in the FIFA international playoff, with a spot at the 2026 World Cup on the line. With their last appearance in the tournament coming more than 30 years ago, the South American side has one final chance to return to soccer’s most prestigious stage.
Watch Iraq vs Bolivia live on Fubo
During their run through the playoff bracket, La Verde first had to get past Suriname to earn the right to face Iraq in the final. In that semifinal, goals from Moises Paniagua and Miguel Angel Terceros fueled a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory to book their place in the decisive match.
With Iraq standing between them and the World Cup, Bolivia will be looking to end a drought that stretches back to the 1994 edition, now 32 years ago. Several scenarios could play out Tuesday night to determine who claims that final spot in the field.
How a Bolivia win affects the 2026 World Cup
If Bolivia gets past Iraq, La Verde will be officially bound for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They would join Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Colombia as the CONMEBOL representatives in the tournament.
Miguel Terceros of Bolivia takes a penalty against Suriname.
By advancing through this playoff path, Bolivia would slot into Group I alongside France, Senegal and Norway, as determined by FIFA’s draw. Their opener would come against the Scandinavians led by Erling Haaland, followed by a date with Les Bleus and Kylian Mbappé, and then a clash with Sadio Mané’s Lions of Teranga.
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How a Bolivia draw affects the 2026 World Cup
If Bolivia and Iraq remain level after 90 minutes, the match will move to extra time, played in two 15-minute halves. Should the sides still be deadlocked after that, a penalty shootout will decide who advances.
As FIFA determined that no second-leg matches would be played during the March international break, this single fixture is all there is. It is win or go home, with no second chances on offer.
How a Bolivia loss affects the 2026 World Cup
If Bolivia falls to Iraq on Tuesday night, La Verde will be eliminated and their World Cup hopes will be over. The single-game format leaves no margin for error, as one bad performance is all it takes to end a nation’s dream.
In that scenario, Iraq would claim Bolivia’s spot in Group I, ending a lengthy absence of their own from the World Cup. The last time the Asian nation appeared at the tournament was at Mexico 1986, where they were grouped alongside Germany, Spain and South Korea.
