Martins Moreno left out of Bolivia squad for World Cup playoffs

LA PAZ, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Marcelo Martins Moreno, Bolivia's all-time top scorer, was left out of the national team's squad on Monday for the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs.

The 38-year-old scorer of 31 goals in 108 international matches has not represented Bolivia since November 2023. He came out of retirement last month to sign with boyhood club Oriente Petrolero.

Manager Oscar Villegas included veteran goalkeeper Carlos Lampe, influential defender Luis Haquin and midfield enforcer Moises Villarroel.

Bolivia, which last played in the World Cup finals in 1994, advanced to the playoff tournament in Mexico by finishing seventh in the South American qualifying group.

Its first playoff match will be against Suriname in Monterrey on March 26, with the winner to face Iraq five days later.

The World Cup finals will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.

Bolivia squad:

Goalkeepers: Carlos Lampe, Guillermo Viscarra, Geronimo Govea

Defenders: Diego Medina, Yomar Rocha, Lucas Macazaga, Roberto Fernandez, Dieguito Rodriguez, Luis Haquin, Richet Gomez, Marcelo Torrez, Efrain Morales, Diego Arroyo, Leonardo Zabala

Midfielders: Ervin Vaca, Hector Cuellar, Robson Matheus, Moises Villarroel, Gabriel Villamil, Ramiro Vaca, Carlos Melgar

Forwards: Victor Abrego, Miguel Terceros, Jesus Maraude, Fernando Nava, Moises Paniagua, Enzo Monteiro and Juan Godoy

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