Vinotinto U-17 qualifies for the Qatar 2026 World Cup after winning the South American Championship in Paraguay

Published at: 18/04/2026 09:12 PM

The Vinotinto U-17 secured its ticket to the Qatar 2026 World Cup by beating Bolivia 1-0 in a decisive South American match against Paraguay.

Andy Saavedra's goal shaped a hard-fought, intense and convincing victory for a group that fought to the end to stay in the race.

“Our Vinotinto U-17 has sealed its ticket to the Qatar 2026 World Cup after a heroic performance in the South American Under-17 in Paraguay,” said the Ministry of Popular Power for Sports (MPPD), on its Instagram account.

He points out that “with a resounding 1-0 victory against Bolivia, our Golden Generation demonstrated that the future of national football is more alive than ever”.

“This triumph is the result of the effort, discipline and tireless work of a group of young people who today fill an entire country with pride,” he emphasizes.

“Thank you, guys, for leaving your soul on the court and taking our tricolor to the ultimate soccer event! See you in Qatar!” , expressed in the publication.

For its part, the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF), on its website, highlights that the national team, led by Jhonny Ferreira, followed a demanding path in the CONMEBOL U-17 2026, competing in the group stage against Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Bolivia.

On that journey, Venezuela fought to the end for direct qualification, but after falling in the play-off crossing against Uruguay, it had to play one last decisive match to stay alive and fight for the region's seventh ticket to the world cup.

In that borderline scenario, the team's response was once again up to the challenge. Vinotinto found the advantage with the definition of Andy Saavedra and then held the result with order, dedication and determination, in addition to creating opportunities to expand the score in a match that required total concentration until the final whistle. It was another example of the competitive mettle of a generation that knew how to stand up and respond at a time of greatest pressure.

With this classification, Venezuela will be present at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 and will extend a historic sequence for national men's youth soccer, linking its presence in the 2023, 2025 and 2026 editions and the fourth in its history.

A new step for a generation that upheld its dream with work, courage and a sense of belonging, and that will once again take the name of the country to the highest stage of the category.