Bolivia faces Iraq in World Cup playoff final in Monterrey
Bolivia seeks first World Cup appearance since 1994; winner advances to 2026 tournament and Group I with France, Senegal, Norway.
9:46 PM
Bolivia and Iraq meet Wednesday at the BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, in the final of the FIFA Intercontinental Playoff 2, with the winner securing the last available spot for the 2026 World Cup.
The match begins at midnight Argentina time (00:00 Wednesday, April 1), with Salvadoran referee Iván Barton officiating. In the United States, kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 p.m. ET, 10:00 p.m. CT, and 8:00 p.m. PT. The game is broadcast live on DSports and available online through DGO.
Bolivia advanced to the final by defeating Surinam 2–1 in the playoff semifinal. The South American team trailed after an own goal at the 48th minute but mounted a comeback with goals from Moisés Paniagua at the 72nd minute and Miguel Terceros from a penalty kick with ten minutes remaining. The victory marked a significant step toward a World Cup return after 32 years; Bolivia last participated in the 1994 tournament in the United States.
Iraq qualified directly for the final without playing a preliminary round, having secured the better FIFA ranking among the three Intercontinental Playoff 2 participants. The Iraqi team is managed by Australian coach Graham Arnold, who previously directed Australia at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where the team lost to Argentina in the round of 16. Iraq last appeared in a World Cup in 1986 in Mexico.
The match is a single-game elimination format. If the score remains tied after 90 minutes, the teams will play extra time, followed by a penalty shootout if necessary.
The winner will join Group I of the 2026 World Cup alongside France, Senegal, and Norway. For Bolivia, qualification would represent a historic return to the tournament after more than three decades. The Bolivian national team, managed by Óscar Villegas, qualified for the playoff by finishing seventh in the South American qualifying round. Bolivia has participated in three World Cups in its history: 1930, when it was invited; 1950, when it gained automatic entry; and 1994, its most recent appearance.
Iraq's path to the final came through the Asian Football Confederation qualifying rounds, where the team defeated the United Arab Emirates in the fifth round.