Moises Paniagua and Miguel Terceros scored late goals, propelling Bolivia towards its first World Cup appearance in 32 years with a 2-1 victory over Suriname. Liam van Gelderen initially put Suriname in the lead just after halftime, but Bolivia equalized through Paniagua in the 72nd minute. Terceros then secured the win by converting a penalty seven minutes later after a foul on Juan Godoy.
The result sets up a crucial playoff between Bolivia and Iraq at the same venue on Tuesday. While Iraq has not qualified for the World Cup since 1986, Bolivia is aiming for its first appearance since the 1994 tournament in the United States. The upcoming World Cup, scheduled from June 11 to July 19, will be hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
In other matches, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Czechia both staged dramatic comebacks in shootouts to advance in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification. Bosnia and Herzegovina will face Italy in Zenica, while Czechia will take on Denmark in Prague for a chance to secure a spot in North America. Additionally, Sweden, led by Viktor Gyokeres’ hat-trick, overcame Ukraine in their Path B semi-final and will now host Poland. Kosovo and Turkiye are set to clash in Pristina for the Path C decider.
