Venezuela dismissed head coach Fernando Batista and his entire backroom staff on Wednesday night, a day after their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended and following an intervention by President Nicolás Maduro.
The Argentine’s dismissal came after Maduro publicly called for a “restructuring of the technical staff” in the wake of a humiliating 6-3 home defeat to Colombia, which ended the Vinotinto’s dream of reaching a World Cup finals for the first time.
“Yesterday we suffered a painful defeat,” Maduro said. “All of Venezuela demands a restructuring of the technical staff of the Vinotinto, a reorganisation of the strategy, of the doctrine and of the line of combat and hard work.”
The expansion of the 2026 World Cup in North America from 32 to 48 teams had boosted Venezuela’s hopes of qualifying. They remain the only CONMEBOL nation never to have appeared at the finals.
But the heavy loss to Colombia allowed Bolivia, who stunned five-time world champions Brazil 1-0, to secure a place in the intercontinental play-offs instead.
Elsewhere in South America, Peru also parted ways with coach Oscar Ibanez after finishing their campaign with just two wins, 10 defeats and six goals scored in 18 matches. Their elimination had been confirmed before the final round.
