Bolivia's World Cup Appearances: A Comprehensive Overview

Bolivia has qualified for the World Cup on three occasions: in 1930, 1950, and 1994. On each occasion, they did not progress past the group stage. Bolivia has played six matches at the finals, drawing one and losing five. Their only World Cup goal came against Spain in 1994 and was scored by Erwin Sánchez.

Bolivia's first World Cup was in 1930

Bolivia's first World Cup appearance was in 1930, the inaugural FIFA World Cup, hosted in Uruguay. Bolivia was one of 13 teams to compete, seven from South America, four from Europe, and two from North America.

The Bolivian team's first match was against Yugoslavia at the Estadio Parque Central, Montevideo. Bolivia lost 4-0. Their second and final match was against Brazil at the Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, which they also lost 4-0. Bolivia did not advance past the group stage.

Bolivia's players paid tribute to the hosts in their opening match by wearing shirts emblazoned with the letters of "Viva Uruguay". This was the first time the team competed on the world stage, having debuted in international football in 1926.

The 1930 World Cup was the only tournament without a qualification phase. Every country affiliated with FIFA was invited to compete, but due to the long and costly trip to South America, and the ongoing economic crisis, very few European teams were inclined to participate. Bolivia was one of seven South American teams to enter, the most in the history of the World Cup finals.

They have attended three World Cups in total

Bolivia has attended the World Cup three times in total: in 1930, 1950, and 1994. On each occasion, they did not progress past the group stage. They have played six matches in total, drawing one and losing the other five. Bolivia has only scored one goal in the World Cup, in 1994, against Spain.

Bolivia was one of the 13 teams in the inaugural World Cup in 1930. They were drawn into Group 2 and lost both games 4-0, first to Yugoslavia and then to Brazil. Bolivia returned for the 1950 World Cup, where they played just one game, losing 8-0 to Uruguay.

Bolivia's most recent World Cup appearance was in 1994. They were drawn into Group C and played the defending champions Germany in the tournament's opening match. Bolivia lost this game and went on to draw 0-0 with South Korea and lose 3-1 to Spain, with Sánchez scoring Bolivia's first-ever World Cup goal.

Despite their World Cup performances, Bolivia has had more success in the Copa América, winning the tournament in 1963 and finishing as runners-up in 1997.

Bolivia has never advanced past the group stage

Bolivia has participated in the FIFA World Cup on three occasions: in 1930, 1950, and 1994. However, they have never advanced beyond the group stage of the competition. In their six total matches, they have drawn one and lost five, with their only goal coming against Spain in a 3-1 defeat in 1994, scored by Erwin Sánchez.

Bolivia was one of 13 teams in the inaugural World Cup in 1930. They were drawn into Group 2 and played two games, losing 4-0 to both Yugoslavia and Brazil. The match against Yugoslavia was played at the Estadio Parque Central, while the match against Brazil took place at the Estadio Centenario. Bolivia's performance in the 1930 World Cup set the tone for their subsequent appearances.

In the 1950 World Cup, Bolivia found themselves in a group of two alongside Uruguay due to three teams declining to play in Brazil. Their sole match ended in an 8-0 defeat to Uruguay at the Estádio Independência in Belo Horizonte. This heavy loss further emphasised Bolivia's struggles on the World Cup stage.

Bolivia's most recent World Cup appearance came in 1994, marking the only time they have qualified without an invitation. They were placed in Group C and faced challenging opponents: defending champions Germany, South Korea, and Spain. Their opening match against Germany at Soldier Field ended in a loss, with the Germans prevailing despite Bolivia's strong first-half performance. Against South Korea at Foxboro Stadium, Bolivia played with ten men and managed a goalless draw. In their final group game, they returned to Chicago and lost 3-1 to Spain, with Sánchez scoring Bolivia's historic first-ever World Cup goal.

Despite their elimination in the group stage, Bolivia's 1994 campaign had some positive moments. Notably, they became the first team to beat Brazil in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers, winning 2-0 in La Paz. This result contributed to their qualification for the tournament, where they finished second in Group B behind Brazil.

The Bolivian team has only scored one World Cup goal

The Bolivian national football team, nicknamed La Verde, has only managed to qualify for the World Cup on three occasions: in 1930, 1950, and 1994. Despite their limited appearances, Bolivia's performance in the 1994 World Cup was particularly notable.

In the 1994 World Cup, Bolivia was drawn into Group C, where they faced challenging opponents: defending champions Germany, South Korea, and Spain. Unfortunately, Bolivia lost their first match against Germany in a controversial game that included a questionable offside goal. Their second match, against South Korea, ended in a goalless draw, with Bolivia playing a significant portion of the game with only ten men after a red card.

It was in their third and final group stage match against Spain that Bolivia scored their lone World Cup goal. Despite ultimately losing the game 3-1, Erwin Sánchez made history by scoring the first-ever Bolivian goal in a World Cup. This goal ended a drought of six World Cup matches without a goal for Bolivia, dating back to their first appearance in 1930.

While Bolivia has only managed one goal across their three World Cup appearances, they have found greater success in other competitions. Notably, they won the Copa América in 1963 and finished as runners-up in 1997, showcasing their potential on the international football stage.

Bolivia has played six World Cup matches, losing five and drawing one

Bolivia has participated in the World Cup, the most-watched sporting event in the world, on three occasions: 1930, 1950, and 1994. They were invited to compete in the first two tournaments and qualified for the third. Bolivia has played six World Cup matches, losing five and drawing one. They have never advanced past the first round of any World Cup and have only scored one goal, in 1994.

In the 1930 World Cup, Bolivia was drawn into Group 2 and lost both their games 4-0, first to Yugoslavia and then to Brazil. Bolivia returned for the 1950 World Cup, where they were placed in a group of two alongside Uruguay. Their only game was an 8-0 defeat to the hosts.

Bolivia qualified for the 1994 World Cup by finishing second in their group during the qualification phase, which included record 7-0 and 7-1 wins over Venezuela. In the tournament's Group C, they played the defending champions Germany in the opening match, losing 1-0. They then drew 0-0 with South Korea before losing 3-1 to Spain, with Erwin Sánchez scoring Bolivia's first-ever goal in a World Cup.

Despite their World Cup performances, Bolivia has found success in the Copa América, winning in 1963 and finishing as runners-up in 1997. They also reached the quarter-finals of the 2015 Copa América in Chile, advancing past the group stage for the first time since 1997.

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