The Bolivian team, led by Argentina’s Gustavo Costas, began training in La Paz to face Ecuador in three days’ time in South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, securing their first win after two defeats.

La Verde trained at the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz, at more than 3,600 meters above sea level, where they will welcome the Ecuador national team led by Spaniard Félix Sánchez on Thursday, October 12.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game, that Ecuador always comes to play good games here in La Paz, but we have our thing and we’re going to fight for the three points,” midfielder Ramiro Vaca said before training.

He added that it is important to score points at home and that they are preparing to win.

This weekend began the assembly of the 27 players called up by Costas, eight of whom are active abroad, to face Ecuador and visit Paraguay on October 17 for the fourth leg of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Among those invited, forward Henry Vaca, who plays for Maccabi Bnei Reineh from Israel, and whom Costas invited for the first time, stands out; He also invited Danny Bejaran, from Nea Salamina Famagusta FC Cyprus; Marcelo Martins Moreno, among others from Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle.

Meanwhile, Ruddy Romero, the team doctor, reported that goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra suffered an “injury, sprained ankle” in a local league game over the weekend and that a CT scan and X-rays were performed.

“Seeing that there are no bone injuries, the player is with us to work on the inflammatory processes in his ankle,” Romero said.

According to him, Viscarra will be able to play against Ecuador, but it depends on the goalkeeper’s “tolerance for discomfort”.

La Verde went down 5-1 in their debut against Brazil and suffered another defeat away to world champions Argentina, 0-3.

In September, Costas began a microcycle with 25 players leading to training at the Guido Loayza High Performance Center in La Paz.

Football in Bolivia returned this week after a month without competition due to allegations of corruption and match-fixing. (D)