The Bolivian national football team overcame the first hurdle in the intercontinental playoff for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday by coming from behind to beat Suriname 2-1 in Monterrey (Mexico) and will now seek qualification next Tuesday against Iraq in the same city.
The South American team secured victory with goals from Moisés Paniagua in the 72nd minute and Miguel Terceros from a penalty in the 79th. Suriname opened the scoring in the 48th minute through Van Gelderen.
The match, which was played in a discreet manner with alternating control, saw the Surinamese team perform better in the first half while Bolivia was superior in the second. The game took place at the BBVA Stadium in Monterrey. Bolivia has not qualified for the World Cup since the 1994 edition in the United States.
