Caracas (Venezuela), Sep 12 (AP) Venezuela has fired coach Fernando Batista after the men’s national team failed — again — to qualify for the World Cup.
Venezuela, the only South American team to have never competed in a World Cup, arrived at the last round of qualifiers needing a win over Colombia to secure the seventh place in the standings that grants a spot in the international playoffs.
But Batista’s team lost 6-3, and Bolivia defeated Brazil 1-0 to secure the ticket for the 2026 World Cup playoffs.
Venezuela’s soccer federation said late Wednesday the 55-year-old Batista, who spent 20 months at the helm, was fired “due to the fact that the objectives in this cycle were not achieved.” Peru makes change ============ Peru fired coach Oscar Ibanez after the team finished ninth in the 10-country South American competition. Only Chile had a worse campaign.
The 58-year-old Ibanez, who was appointed as interim coach after Jorge Fossati was fired, won just one of six matches.
Peru last played in a World Cup in 2018.
Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay have qualified for next summer’s World Cup. (AP) AM AM AM
Category: Breaking News
SEO Tags: #swadesi, #News, Venezuela and Peru fire their coaches after failing to qualify for 2026 World Cup
