Bolivia
Landlocked South American republic; La Paz is the seat of government, Sucre the constitutional capital.
Bolivia's measles outbreak had slowed to five new cases in the fortnight to 12 September 2026, leaving 115 confirmed cases and one death, as PAHO reviews whether the country keeps its elimination status.
Last refreshed: 4 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can Bolivia end a 32-year World Cup absence against an opponent that nearly could not travel?
Timeline for Bolivia
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2026 FIFA World CupBackground
Bolivia faces a test of its public-health record in late 2026. PAHO's Regional Verification Commission has visited the country to review its measles elimination status, after 115 confirmed cases and one death by 19 September. Its outbreak is a minor front beside Guatemala (33,866 cases) and Mexico (12,943), which carry most of the burden in the Americas.
The country splits its capital functions: Sucre is the constitutional capital and La Paz the seat of government. About 12 million people live there. The National football TEAM plays its home matches at the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, 3,640m above SEA level.
Bolivia last played at a World Cup in 1994, in the United States, where it lost to Germany and Spain and drew 0-0 with South Korea. The 2-1 playoff defeat to Iraq in Monterrey on 31 March 2026 kept it out of the 48-team tournament.
Bolivia's measles outbreak has slowed
PAHO's situation report of 24 September counted 115 confirmed measles cases and one death in Bolivia to 19 September 2026. Only five new cases came in the fortnight to 12 September, too few for PAHO to model onward spread.
PAHO's Regional Verification Commission has visited Bolivia, as well as Mexico and Peru, to review whether each keeps its measles elimination status. Bolivia's tally is small against a regional total of 53,957 confirmed cases and 68 deaths across 17 countries and territories, 3.8 times the same period of 2025. The nearest pressure comes from Peru, which added 190 cases in that fortnight and expects big crowds for October's religious festivities and a papal visit in November.
Bolivia's World Cup absence runs on
Bolivia came within one match of the 2026 World Cup. On 31 March 2026 it lost the inter-confederation playoff final 2-1 to Iraq in Monterrey, after Ali al-Hamadi scored on 10 minutes and Aymen Hussein on 53. The defeat extended an absence from the finals that dates from 1994.
Iraq had nearly failed to reach the match at all. Its airspace was closed by the Iran-US conflict, and each squad member flew in on a chartered jet. Bolivia's last outing of the cycle came on 6 June in Harrison, New Jersey, where it lost 4-0 to Scotland in a warm-up for a tournament Bolivia would only watch.
Is Bolivia in the 2026 World Cup?
When did Bolivia last play at a World Cup?
How many measles cases does Bolivia have in 2026?
