Ricardo Gareca's tenure as Chile's coach has ended following the team's failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The announcement came after Chile's 2-0 defeat to Bolivia on Tuesday, a result that sealed their fate in the South American qualifying campaign. This marks the third consecutive time that "La Roja" will miss the World Cup, a stark contrast to their golden era when they won the Copa América in 2015 and 2016.
Gareca, the 67-year-old Argentine coach, took charge of the Chilean national team in January 2024. During his time, Chile managed only one victory in 13 official matches, a 4-2 win over Venezuela. The other matches resulted in eight defeats and four draws. The lack of consistent performance led to Chile languishing at the bottom of the South American qualifiers table with just 10 points and two matches remaining.
"This decision was made collectively with the coaching staff and the entire delegation. We informed them that we want to ease the situation," Gareca told Reuters during a press conference. "The results have never gone our way — not once. We failed to achieve the outcomes we aimed for, and Chile now finds itself in a situation no one wanted."
The Chilean Football Federation (ANFP) has acknowledged the disappointment and has begun the search for a new coach. ANFP President Pablo Milad expressed his disappointment, stating, "The process we began with Ricardo, with great hope, has come to an end." He assured fans that an interim coach will take over for the final two qualifiers against Brazil and Uruguay in September. Milad also mentioned that the ANFP plans to appoint a general manager for the national teams and seek external advisors to guide their next steps.
Chile's failure to qualify for the World Cup is a significant blow to the nation's footballing aspirations. Veteran striker Alexis Sánchez lamented the end of an era, stating, "Sad, I am feeling bad. Never lived something like this. We have to ask people to forgive us. We have to keep working. There's change already, the golden generation is buried, I am the only one left."
Before coaching Chile, Gareca had a successful stint with the Peruvian national team, leading them to the 2018 World Cup. His experience also includes managing several notable clubs, such as Vélez Sarsfield, América, Palmeiras, and Talleres. His contract with Chile was originally set to run until the summer of 2026, but the disappointing results led to an early termination.
Looking ahead, the ANFP faces the challenge of rebuilding the national team and finding a coach who can bring stability and success. Gustavo Álvarez, the current manager of Universidad de Chile, has emerged as a potential candidate to replace Gareca. However, Álvarez has stated that he is focused on his current contract.
Chile's absence from the World Cup for the third consecutive time marks a decline from their glory days. The team's last World Cup appearance was in Brazil 2014. The challenge now is to find a new direction and rebuild a team capable of competing at the highest level.
