Bolivia's national soccer team is elevating its strategy by hosting World Cup qualifiers at unprecedented altitudes. The team usually plays in La Paz, situated at 3,640 meters (11,940 feet) above sea level. That was tough enough. But the South American soccer body CONMEBOL has now sanctioned a shift to El Alto, 4,150 meters high (13,615 feet). This move aims to provide a competitive edge, given Bolivia's disappointing record of one win and five losses ahead of Thursday's game against Venezuela. Bolivia won 4-0, with newly appointed coach Oscar Villegas debuting.
Villegas had expressed hope the altitude would work to their advantage, choosing players accustomed to the high-altitude environment, including players from Always Ready club in El Alto and Bolívar in La Paz. "Soccer is made of details," Villegas stated. "We are trying to take care of details that can allow us to be more effective."
El Alto Municipal Stadium, opened in 2017, seats 24,000 and sits 560 meters higher than La Paz's Hernando Siles Stadium. Bolivian Football Federation President, Fernando Costa, sees this as a trial to evaluate player responses and the potential of making El Alto a permanent home game venue. Venezuela had prepared rigorously, with oxygen exercises and hyperbaric chamber training. FIFA had briefly banned high-altitude games but reversed the decision after Bolivia's objections. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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