Bolivia wanted to boost its chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by moving its home matches to the city of El Alto, which sits at a stunning altitude of 4,215 metres above sea level.
The South Americans usually played in their capital, La Paz, at the Estadio Hernando Siles, which is 3,610 meters above sea level.
The venue is one of the highest professional stadiums in the world and the altitude presents a real challenge for opponents.
Last year, Argentine players were given personal oxygen tubes to help them cope with the high altitude.
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister posted a picture of himself using his oxygen tube in La Paz, while Cristian Romero also clutched his as he exited the team bus.
Bolivia has moved its World Cup qualifying match against Venezuela to the El Alto Municipal Stadium.
The venue is located 13,615 feet above sea level and is one of the highest in the world
Bolivia hopes that the altitude can give them an advantage in World Cup qualification
Brazilian star Neymar had previously sharply criticised the choice of venue after he had to use oxygen masks to recover following a grueling 0-0 draw with Bolivia in 2017.
After the match, the Brazilian star said: “It is inhuman to play in such conditions: field, height, ball… everything bad.”
In 2007, the stadium was banned from hosting World Cup qualifiers because FIFA ruled that such matches could not be held at an altitude higher than 2,500 m above sea level.
However, after one season in Bolivia, FIFA relented and granted the stadium special permission to continue operating just one month later, despite claims that the lack of oxygen in the air gave players accustomed to oxygen a distinct home advantage.
The test is likely to be even tougher for the opponents, as Bolivia has moved its home World Cup qualifier against Venezuela on Thursday to an even higher altitude in El Alto, at 4,150 metres.
Bolivia’s new head coach Oscar Villegas expressed hope that the altitude will help the national team, which is currently second to last in the South American qualifiers after six games.
“Football is about details. That doesn’t mean we’re going to win with this (stadium change),” Villegas said, according to the Associated Press. “We’re trying to take care of details that allow us to be more effective.”
“In El Alto we will try to play as intensely as possible and show them that they are playing on a new pitch where we were unbeatable,” Villegas said, referring to local teams that play there in club competitions such as the Copa Libertadores and the Sudamericana.
Neymar had previously described playing in Bolivia’s capital La Paz as “inhumane”.
Brazil’s players wore oxygen masks to recover from altitude in 2017
The Brazilian national team had played a grueling goalless draw in Bolivia’s capital.
Argentina’s players were given oxygen tubes before their meeting with Bolivia in La Paz last year.
“The psychological and emotional aspect also plays a role. This is something that will help us a lot.”
According to reports, 80 percent of the Bolivian squad is made up of players accustomed to the thinner air, including six from Club Always Ready in El Alto and another six from Bolívar in La Paz.
Venezuela, fourth in the South American qualifiers, has named a 47-man squad for its next matches.
The squad includes players who play for clubs in high altitudes, while the team is reportedly based on They complete oxygen breathing exercises and acclimatization in hyperbaric chambers.
The president of the Bolivian Football Federation, Fernando Costa, has stated that the El Alto municipal stadium, which opened in 2017, is currently being tested with the aim of making it the permanent home of the national team.
In February, the most important game of all time in the Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent of the Champions League, took place here.
Bolivian team Always Ready won the first leg of the qualifiers 6-1 against Peruvian team Sporting Cristal. The visitors faltered in the second half after a 1-1 draw at halftime.
Bolivia’s head coach Oscar Villegas hopes that the altitude in El Alto will give his team a boost
Bolivia is currently second to last in the South American qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Bolivia aims to beat Venezuela at high altitude on Thursday to boost its qualification hopes
“We have to make something clear: playing at this altitude is very difficult,” said Cristal head coach Enderson Moreira after the game.
“The players’ behaviour is completely different, with a different approach, which brings with it a question of adaptation. It’s not easy to play here.”
Bolivia has not qualified for the World Cup since 1994 and has only one win in six qualifying matches: a 2-0 win against Peru in La Paz.
After six of 18 games, the national team is four points away from the last automatic World Cup qualification place, but only two points away from a play-off place.
