The highly anticipated World Cup qualifier between Colombia and Bolivia is set to take place on Thursday, October 10, at the Estadio Municipal de El Alto. This match is crucial for both teams as they vie for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The stakes are high, not only due to the competitive nature of the game but also because of recent allegations of espionage between the two teams.
1. Match Details
The game will kick off at 4:00 PM ET/ 1:00 PM PT, with Colombia looking to maintain their unbeaten streak in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers. Bolivia, on the other hand, is seeking to capitalize on their recent resurgence after securing wins in three of their last four matches.
Colombia has been on a strong run, winning four and drawing seven of their eight games so far. They are currently second in the CONMEBOL qualification table, just two points behind leaders Argentina. The team has shown impressive defensive prowess on the road, conceding only once in four away qualifiers.
Bolivia, despite struggling initially with four consecutive losses in qualifiers, has rebounded impressively. Their historic win over Chile in Santiago marked their first away triumph in South American qualifiers since 1993 and their first competitive road win in this century.
2. Team Lineups and Injuries
Colombia will be without several key players due to injuries. Yerson Mosquera, Rafael Santos Borre, and goalkeeper David Ospina are all sidelined. As a result, Camilo Vargas is expected to start in goal, while Jefferson Lerma will take his place in midfield. Jhon Duran is set to lead the attack, replacing Jhon Crdoba as the team's main forward.
Bolivia also faces some challenges with their lineup. Veteran goalkeeper Carlos Lampe is out due to an injury sustained after their win over Chile last month. Henry Vaca is also unavailable, but the fresh-faced squad members are beginning to find their rhythm at this level.
3. Allegations of Espionage
The match has been marred by allegations of espionage. Colombia's head coach Nestor Lorenzo has accused Bolivia of spying on his team ahead of the game. Lorenzo claimed that they identified an individual who was spying on them and have photographic evidence to support their claim.
Bolivian national team head coach Oscar Villegas responded by suggesting that the Bolivian press were helping Colombia prepare for the match by sharing information. However, it remains unclear whether these allegations will have any impact on the game's outcome.
The accusations come just months after Canada Soccer was fined $313,000 and deducted six points from their Olympic squad for using drones to spy on opponents.
4. How to Watch the Match
Fans in Colombia can watch the match for free on Caracol Play, while those in Venezuela can tune in on Venevision. In the United States, the game will be available on Fanatiz with a PPV Qualifiers bundle costing $99.99. For fans abroad, using a VPN like NordVPN can help access these streaming services.
In the UK and other countries, fans can access the live stream via Bet365 without needing to place a bet. However, they must have an account with some money in it.
The high altitude of the Estadio Municipal de El Alto will undoubtedly pose a challenge for both teams. Bolivia has historically struggled with high-altitude matches, while Colombia has shown resilience in such conditions.
Celsius Holdings Inc. (CELH), a leading manufacturer of functional energy beverages and liquid supplements, has been experiencing significant fluctuations in
