Match Preview: Colombia vs Bolivia
This highly anticipated 17th-round fixture in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign will see Colombia host Bolivia on September 5 at the iconic Metropolitano Stadium in Barranquilla. This preview offers an in-depth analysis, including a detailed prediction, betting insights, current odds, and relevant statistics for the clash between these two South American rivals.Colombia’s Qualification Journey and Current Form
The Colombian national team is currently facing a challenging period, having failed to secure a victory in their last six consecutive South American World Cup qualifiers, recording three draws and three losses. This poor run has seen them slip to 6th position in the standings. Despite this, they maintain a comfortable four-point lead over 7th-placed Venezuela. To guarantee a direct spot at the 2026 World Cup, a win in this crucial upcoming encounter is paramount. It is worth highlighting that Colombia’s last three qualification matches all ended in stalemates.
Key Statistics for Colombia
- The Colombians have remained undefeated in 8 of their last 9 home qualification games for the World Cup (5 wins and 3 draws).
- Colombia has conceded goals at home in 5 of their last 7 World Cup qualification matches.
- The national team has not lost the first half in 10 of their last 11 qualification matches (6 wins and 4 draws).
Colombia’s Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1)
Kevin Mier – Johan Mojica, Daniel Muñoz, Yerry Mina, Davinson Sanchez – Jefferson Lerma, Kevin Castaño – Jhon Arias, James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz – Jhon Duran.
Bolivia’s Qualification Hopes and Recent Performance
Under the guidance of Oscar Villegas, the Bolivian squad endured a six-game winless streak in the current qualifiers, comprising two draws and four defeats. However, this barren spell was emphatically broken in the previous round with a decisive 2-0 home victory against Chile. This crucial win has rekindled their aspirations for World Cup qualification, albeit likely via the play-offs. With only two matches remaining, Bolivia trails 7th place by just one point, making it imperative for them to surpass Venezuela in the CONMEBOL standings. A remote possibility exists for them to even climb to 6th, requiring them to win both their remaining fixtures, coupled with Colombia losing their final match and Venezuela dropping points in this 17th round.
Bolivia’s Performance Metrics
- At least one team failed to score in 6 of Bolivia’s last 8 matches in the current qualification campaign.
- The national team is on a 4-match losing streak away from home in World Cup qualifiers.
- Bolivia has failed to score in 9 of their last 13 away matches in the South American World Cup qualifiers.
Bolivia’s Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1)
Carlos Lampe – Diego Medina, Efrain Morales, Diego Arroyo, Roberto Fernandez – Moises Villarroel, Erwin Vaca – Miguel Terceros, Hector Cuellar, Enzo Monteiro – Carmelo Algaranaz.
Team News: Bolivia Absences
Striker Lucas Chavez will be unavailable for this match due to suspension.
Match Official: Dario Herrera
Dario Herrera (Argentina)
Matches officiated – 22 (International matches, 2024–2025);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 100;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.6;
Red cards shown – 8;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties awarded – 23%.
Expert Analysis and Match Outcome Prediction
For a considerable period, Colombia held a strong second-place position in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers. However, there’s a strong sense that the team became complacent, prematurely assuming their World Cup berth was secured. Should they falter in these concluding rounds, their qualification could be jeopardized. Consequently, it is expected that the Colombian squad will approach this crucial fixture with utmost focus and determination, aiming to secure all three vital points.
Head-to-Head Record and Betting Insight
Despite an unexpected 1-0 home victory for Bolivia in the reverse fixture, Colombia has historically dominated this head-to-head matchup. Prior to that recent upset, the Colombians enjoyed a formidable run of 11 consecutive official matches against Bolivia without defeat, registering nine wins and two draws. Notably, Colombia kept a clean sheet in seven of those encounters. Considering Bolivia’s struggle to find the net in five of their last seven away World Cup qualifiers, it is highly probable that Colombia will secure a comfortable victory without conceding any goals.
Our Final Betting Tip
Based on the comprehensive analysis, our recommended wager is a “Colombia Clean Sheet Win” with favorable odds of
1.71
Mark Thompson