Gustavo Costas is no longer the coach of the Bolivian National Team.

The Bolivia National Team has decided to no longer count on Gustavo Costas, due to his poor results in the first 4 matches of the 2026 Eliminator. The Bolivian Football Federation reportedly informed the Argentine coach of his dismissal, according to journalist César Luis Merlo.

Gustavo Costas' last match with Bolivia

Paraguay found a new lease of life on the South American road to the 2026 World Cup by defeating bottom-placed Bolivia 1-0 on Tuesday in Asuncion for the fourth round of qualifying.

The only goal of the match was scored by forward Antonio Sanabria in the 69th minute.

La Albirroja, led by Argentine Daniel Garnero, ended with 10 men due to the injury of Tito Villalba in the 86th minute, a forward who had replaced another injured player, Ramón Sosa, who came off with a sprained ankle in the 25th minute of play.

“We had to win by any means necessary and we won. We want to do a lot of things and we are satisfied with what we did, and that leaves me very calm,” said coach Garnero.

“Paraguay proposed, this result was evading us, and we obtained the well-deserved reward that we came to seek,” he added.

His Bolivian colleague, Argentine Gustavo Costas, said he did not intend to resign despite the four consecutive losses that have kept the highlands team at the bottom of the table.

“We are in a process, there is a generational change, we have many new players. We know it will be difficult for us. We have to keep working and seeking positive results. We will recover,” he said optimistically.

- Failed opportunities -

Bolivia barely managed to contain the Paraguayans, who had opportunities to open the scoring in the first half.

In the 8th minute, forward Adam Bareiro challenged Bolivian goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra, but his shot was deflected by the goalkeeper.

Striker Miguel Almirón scored a great goal after an assist from Bareiro, but the Uruguayan referee Gustavo Tejera called offside in the 31st minute.

In the 39th minute, Bolivian defender Diego Medina committed a disqualifying foul on Paraguayan striker Ramón Sosa, one of the best players in the match up to that point. Sosa suffered a sprained ankle after getting caught between Medina's legs.

The referee and VAR determined that there was no foul. The Talleres de Córdoba player was replaced by Tito Villalba.

- Viscarra and providence -

Shortly after the start of the second half, Espínola challenged Viscarra from 25 meters, but the goalkeeper reacted by diverting the ball with difficulty to the corner.

The highlands team withstood the Paraguayan siege with great discipline and patience, fishing for the contradictions of a desperate team eager to score and counterattacking under the leadership of their star striker Marcelo Moreno Martins.

Paraguay scored again in the 66th minute through Gabriel Avalos, who had just replaced Romero Gamarra, but the goal was disallowed due to a handball by the forward.

Coach Garnero had ordered the entry of forward Antonio Sanabria.

Sanabria was the architect of the Albirroja's victory in the 69th minute, after an incursion and cross from the left by Matías Espinoza, which was touched by Miguel Almirón before reaching Sanabria.

In the 80th minute, as a last resort, coach Costas sent Adrían Céspedes, Víctor Abrego, and Marcelo Suarez onto the field to put pressure on the hosts, who were also reduced to 10 men in the 86th minute due to Villalba's injury, the player who had replaced Sosa.

From optimism, the Albirroja turned to uncertainty, facing an uprising rival that went all out for the equalizer.

The referee added 6 minutes of injury time, but the visitors were unable to take advantage of their numerical superiority to at least reach a draw.