(PHOTOS) Venezuela’s World Cup Dream Ends: Heartbreak and Devastated Faces

Colombia defeated Venezuela 6-3 on Tuesday, overcoming an early deficit to crush La Vinotinto’s hopes of reaching the inter-confederation playoff, in a historic night for Luis Javier Suárez, the Sporting de Portugal striker who scored a four-goal haul for Colombia in the match corresponding to the 18th and final round of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

La Vinotinto, coached by Argentine Fernando ‘Bocha’ Batista, took the lead in the 3rd minute through a swift move involving Nahuel Ferraresi and Salomón Rondón, who assisted Telasco Segovia for the 1-0. However, Colombia responded immediately: Yerry Mina equalized with a header in the 10th minute, and just two minutes later, Josef Martínez capitalized on a rebound to make it 2-1.

As Venezuela began to dream of the playoff, Luis Javier Suárez leveled the score before halftime following a poor clearance by goalkeeper Kevin Mier. In the second half, Venezuela’s defense showed vulnerabilities that Colombia exploited. Suárez added three more goals (50th, 59th, and 67th minutes), cementing a historic performance. Rondón pulled one back in the 76th minute, but Jhon Córdoba, who came off the bench, sealed the rout with the 6-3 final score.

“We tried. We were chasing a dream. It wasn’t to be,” Batista said in Maturín, Venezuela, during a press conference where he did not take questions from journalists.

“I simply want to apologize to the Venezuelan people for the dream we had, together with these players, of qualifying for the playoff. It’s a very tough moment, very difficult personally and in terms of football. I’m grateful to this group of players. We fought until the final matchday.”

Batista noted that in the coming days, they will begin to analyze the team’s situation “more calmly” and left the press conference without answering questions.

With this defeat and Bolivia’s 1-0 victory over Brazil, La Vinotinto lost their chance at the inter-confederation playoff and bid farewell to their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The match also marks the potential end of an era for several historic players in the squad, including Salomón Rondón, the team’s all-time leading scorer and key figure.

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