With a berth in World Cup 2026 up for grabs, Colombia and Bolivia draw swords for maximum points in Barranquilla’s Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez in this penultimate CONMEBOL qualification matchday on Friday, 5 August.
Keep close tabs on World Cup qualifying predictions after viewing our key Colombia vs Bolivia tips below.
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Colombia vs Bolivia prediction: Los Cafeteros for the win
Key stats
- Colombia are unbeaten in eight of their previous nine home games (W5, D3).
- The hosts have won once in their last eight WC Qualification games (D3, L4).
- Bolivia have claimed just one victory in their seven recent World Cup qualifiers (D2, L4).
- La Verde haven’t kept a clean sheet in 27 competitive matches away from home.
Correct score prediction: Colombia 3-1 Bolivia
Colombia enter this match in concerning form, winless in six World Cup qualifiers since their 4-0 triumph over Chile in October 2024. Their quest to return to the World Cup for the first time since Russia 2018 has been hampered by this poor run, though recent performances under Nestor Lorenzo, including a resilient 1–1 result against reigning world champions Argentina, offer a glimmer of hope as they approach the penultimate matchday.
Their opponents, Bolivia, finally ended their own six-match winless qualifying run with a win last time out, coincidentally against the same Chilean side that Colombia last beat. La Verde now have a slim chance to compete for their first World Cup appearance in 32 years, provided they get away with at least a point here.
However, they remain clear underdogs heading into Barranquilla. With home advantage and superior attacking quality, Colombia are strongly positioned to secure a comfortable victory and an automatic qualification to the showdown event next year.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Polar odds
- HOME: 2/13 (1.15) – 84.9%
- DRAW: 13/2 (7.505) – 13.3%
- AWAY: 18/1 (19.00) – 5.2%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Colombia will look to register all three points in this crucial qualifier, though they also risk registering a fourth consecutive draw for the first time since 2003 should Bolivia rise to the occasion. The hosts are booked at 2/13 (1.15), implying a significant 84.9% chance of winning.
La Verde, on the other hand, are seeking back-to-back wins for the first time this year. Priced at 18/1 (19.00) with a 5.2% win probability rate, they come into this fixture as sweeping underdogs.
Don’t forget to check out more of our football betting tips after going through our Colombia vs Bolivia predictions.
Most recent H2Hs: One sided
Bolivia beat Colombia 1-0 in their first seasonal H2H in El Alto last October, which remains La Verde’s only triumph across their last 12 meetings dating back to 2003 (D2, L9).
South America - World Cup Qualifying 10/10/24
Bolivia
Colombia
International Match 15/06/24
Colombia
Bolivia
South America - World Cup Qualifying 24/03/22
Colombia
Bolivia
South America - World Cup Qualifying 02/09/21
Bolivia
Colombia
South America - World Cup Qualifying 23/03/17
Colombia
Bolivia
Colombia preview: A couple of suspensions
The suspensions of Daniel Munoz and Kevin Castano will undoubtedly worry Lorenzo, with Colombia only a victory away from securing automatic World Cup qualification
Predicted lineup: Vargas (GK), Angulo, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica, Lerma, Arias, Quintero, James, Diaz & Moreno
South America - World Cup Qualifying 26/03/25
D
Paraguay
2
Colombia
2
South America - World Cup Qualifying 21/03/25
L
Brazil
2
Colombia
1
South America - World Cup Qualifying 19/11/24
L
Ecuador
1
Colombia
0
South America - World Cup Qualifying 16/11/24
L
Uruguay
3
Colombia
2
South America - World Cup Qualifying 15/10/24
W
Chile
0
Colombia
4
Bolivia preview: Can they avoid a defeat?
Oscar Villegas’ fully-fit Bolivia need a point at the least, as they sit just outside the qualification spots with two games remaining.
Predicted lineup: Lampe (GK), Medina, Haquin, Sagredo, Zabala, Fernandez, Villamil, Villaroel, Vaca, Algaranaz & Paniagua
South America - World Cup Qualifying 25/03/25
D
Uruguay
0
Bolivia
0
South America - World Cup Qualifying 21/03/25
L
Peru
3
Bolivia
1
South America - World Cup Qualifying 19/11/24
D
Paraguay
2
Bolivia
2
South America - World Cup Qualifying 15/11/24
L
Ecuador
4
Bolivia
0
South America - World Cup Qualifying 16/10/24
L
Argentina
6
Bolivia
0
Player to watch: Luis Diaz
The new Bayern Munich signing is in hot form, registering three goals and two assists in his first four games for the German giants. He is already this WC Qualification campaign’s top goalscorer with seven strikes, one more than Lionel Messi. The versatile 28-year-old forward also has one assist to his name in the qualifiers.