CBF and Carlo Ancelotti criticized the course of the match and denounced unsportsmanlike behavior, demanding action from CONMEBOL
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Brazil's defeat against Bolivia in the last round of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup sparked controversy. Beyond the result, both the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and Carlo Ancelotti himself expressed strong complaints about what happened in El Alto.
Samuel Xaud, president of the CBF, reported that the match was marked by off-field incidents: "What happened here today is sad. We came to play football and what we saw from the moment we arrived was completely unsportsmanlike".
Xaud calificó de antideportivo a Bolivia
In a conversation with GeGlobo, he expanded on his statement: "Even at this altitude of four thousand meters (13,123 feet), we played against the referees, the police, and the ball boys, taking the balls off the field and putting them back in. It was a complete disaster".
The official demanded concrete measures against Bolivia and its Federation: "This kind of attitude, especially playing at altitude, is difficult, especially when you play with 14 men on the field. I hope CONMEBOL takes action, precisely because we have everything recorded. This can't happen; it's absurd".
Ancelotti also criticized the match in El Alto
After the defeat, Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged how complicated the match was: "Although the team has improved, today's match is the only one we've tried to reconsider".
Ancelotti consideró que el partido fue difícil
The Italian coach also praised his opponent, but he emphasized the difficulty of competing under those conditions: "Bolivia played a very special match in every sense. It's very difficult to play here. It's a team that at home plays with its intensity and is very successful".
The criticism from the CBF and its coach opens a new chapter of controversy surrounding matches at altitude, an old debate within South American football.
