Tigre Gareca depends on a new "Chilean miracle": what La Roja needs to reach the 2026 World Cup

The "Chilean miracle" refers to the period of strong economic growth and stability that Chile experienced during the 1980s, which allowed it to emerge from a deep crisis. The term was popularized by economist Milton Friedman, who indirectly advised Augusto Pinochet's regime through a group of Chilean economists known as the "Chicago Boys" (trained at the University of Chicago).

The Argentine soccer team will have to achieve something similar. Ricardo Gareca 's team is last in the South American World Cup Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and is eight points behind Venezuela , which currently sits seventh and would play in the playoffs, with nine points left to play. What's left for them is not easy: they will travel on Tuesday to the 4,150-meter-high Municipal Stadium in El Alto to visit Bolivia and will close out their participation against Brazil (W) and Uruguay (L) in the September double date. It couldn't be more complex.

In this context, what does Chile need to qualify for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada? First of all, it's worth noting that they have no chance of qualifying directly for the World Cup and must win all three of their matches to maintain their chances of reaching the playoffs, at best.

If they secure the nine points remaining, they will have to hope that Venezuela doesn't earn more than one point in the remainder of the competition. If Fernando Batista's team earns exactly one point, Chile and Venezuela would be tied on 19 points and would decide seventh place on goal difference, which Venezuela currently favors by 11 points (-2 to -13).

However, that might not be enough, as Peru and Bolivia also enter the discussion. Again, based on the fact that Chile must win all of its remaining matches, the Chilean team will also need Peru to fail to win one of its three remaining matches and Bolivia to fail to win two of those matches. It's a complicated scenario for Garecia and company, who are waiting for a miracle.