Chile’s Coach Gareca Resigns After Failing to Qualify

Ricardo Gareca has confirmed he has resigned as Chile coach after their hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup were dashed by a 2-0 defeat against Bolivia on Tuesday, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

"We made a decision, with the coaching staff (...), with the entire delegation. We told them we want to ease the situation," Gareca said during a brief press conference after the match in El Alto, where he did not take questions.

"The results never came to us at any point. We didn't produce results. Chile is in a situation that no one would have wanted," he added.

This defeat left Chile at the bottom of the South American table with just 10 points and two matches remaining in the qualifying round.

"La Roja" will miss the World Cup for the third time in a row, having failed to qualify for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, following a historic era that saw them win the Copa America in 2015 and 2016.

Under the leadership of Argentine coach Gareca, who was appointed in 2024, Chile managed just one victory in 13 official matches.