The Argentine coach resigned after the elimination from the 2026 World Cup, and the Andean country recorded its third consecutive absence from the tournament
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Ricardo Gareca's tenure as head coach of the Chilean national team has come to an end after the painful double defeat against Bolivia and Argentina in the South American Qualifiers.
The blow at home against the Albiceleste and the loss in La Paz left Chile in last place in the standings, with no chance of a comeback and the ticket to the 2026 World Cup definitively lost. El Tigre couldn't reverse the course of a team lacking spirit and ideas, and was removed amid a deep sporting and institutional crisis.
El partido con Bolivia fue el último clavo en el ataúd del Chile de Gareca
With this new elimination, Chile records its third consecutive absence from World Cups and closes one of the darkest chapters in its football history. Far from the achievements of the golden generation that conquered America in 2015 and 2016, La Roja's present is marked by frustration, nostalgia, and urgency. The challenge now will be to rebuild from the ground up, in the midst of a crisis that already goes beyond football alone.
How was Gareca's tenure in Chile
Ricardo Gareca took over as coach of the Chilean national team in January 2024, with the mission of straightening the course of a Roja battered by years of frustration. His arrival caused expectations, backed by his successful tenure in Peru, and began with good results in friendlies, including wins against Albania and Paraguay, and a competitive performance against France.
Al principio del ciclo Gareca, Chile mostró un buen nivel en amistosos
However, the blow came in the 2024 Copa América, where Chile was eliminated in the group stage without scoring goals. The draws against Peru and Canada, and the defeat against Argentina, exposed the lack of offensive power and the team's difficulty in creating play. That performance set off the alarm and marked a turning point in El Tigre's tenure.
In the Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, the numbers were clear: two wins, four draws, and ten defeats in sixteen matches. With just 10 points in the standings, Chile fell to last place in South America, without even a chance to fight for the play-off.
After the latest defeats against Bolivia and Argentina, Gareca submitted his resignation, closing a brief, directionless, and resultless tenure that deepens the crisis in Chilean football even further.
