Bolivia and Jamaica close in on World Cup berthsAFP, MONTERREY, MexicoBolivia and Jamaica on Thursday moved to within one win of returning to the FIFA World Cup after decades-long absences after securing opening victories in the intercontinental playoff tournament in Mexico. Bolivia, chasing their first World Cup appearance since the 1994 finals in the US, came from behind to defeat Suriname 2-1 in Monterrey. The South Americans’ victory sends them into a winner-takes-all playoff against Iraq on Tuesday next week, with the victors advancing to a World Cup group of death alongside France, Norway and Senegal. Bolivia’s Juan Godoy, center, vies for the ball with Suriname’s Anfernee Dijksteel, left, and Leo Abena in their FIFA World Cup playoff semi-final in Guadalupe, Mexico, on Thursday. The Reggae Boyz are to play the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Tuesday next week for the right to a berth in World Cup Group K alongside Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan.

Source: Taipei Times March 27, 2026 16:15 UTC