Chile Eliminated From World Cup Qualifying, Gareca Resigns

Chilean Football Suffers Another Blow: World Cup Hopes Dashed, Gareca Resigns SANTIAGO, CHILE – In a devastating defeat for Chilean football fans, the national team's hopes of qualifying for the next World Cup were dashed following a 2-0 loss to Bolivia. The match, played in La Paz, marked the third consecutive failure to qualify for the tournament. Following the loss, coach Ricardo Gareca announced his resignation, effective immediately. The crushing defeat prompted immediate calls for change within the Chilean Football Federation (ANFP). ANFP president Pablo Milad stated, "Our immediate priority is to find and appoint a new technical manager." The video analysis by sports commentator Pablo Flamm highlighted several critical issues contributing to the team's downfall. Flamm noted the team's late arrival in La Paz, only two days before the match, as a significant strategic error, stating, "The preparation for the match was tremendously flawed." He also pointed to Gareca's poor win rate of less than 20% as evidence of a deeper systemic problem. The loss underscores a profound crisis within Chilean football. The team now faces crucial matches against Brazil and Uruguay in September, adding further pressure to the ANFP's efforts to rebuild the team's morale and performance. The upcoming matches will be a crucial test for the new technical manager and a critical moment for the future of Chilean football.