José María Giménez described the conditions in which the match between Bolivia and Uruguay was played as 'madness'. This World Cup qualifier took place on Tuesday in a stadium located 4,150 meters above sea level. Footage of Giménez receiving oxygen during the match due to a lack of air spread around the world.
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Uruguay endured one of the toughest matches in recent memory on Tuesday night, fighting to a grueling 0-0 draw against Bolivia in a World Cup qualifying clash that pushed the players to their physical and mental limits.
While Bolivia is often viewed as one of the weaker sides in South American football, the context of this match changed everything. The game was played at the Estadio Municipal de Villa Ingenio in El Alto, a city located 4,150 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest professional football stadiums in the world. For the visiting Uruguayans, the conditions quickly turned the match into a survival test rather than a typical football contest.
Throughout the 90 minutes, the lack of oxygen affected nearly every player on the pitch. Running, pressing, and even simple ball control became a struggle. José María Giménez, Uruguay's captain and one of the most experienced players in the squad, was seen on the bench in the final moments of the match with an oxygen mask pressed to his face, gasping for breath. The images quickly went viral, drawing international attention not to the result itself, but to the punishing environment in which it was achieved. Speaking after the match, Giménez described the experience as “madness,” a word he repeated when reflecting on the decision to play international qualifiers at such an altitude.
Still, he tried to draw positives from the result. “It’s a point that should be truly appreciated in the end,” he said. “People who watch from home may not understand how hard it is to play here. We couldn’t breathe. It wasn’t just tiredness it felt like our lungs were closing. But we fought until the end.” Giménez also made a point of singling out Rodrigo Bentancur for his exceptional work rate during the match. “The sprint he made from box to box gave us all a boost. It’s hard to even jog here, let alone cover the whole pitch like that. It was inspiring.”
The harsh environment wasn't limited to Giménez. Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte, another key figure for Uruguay, faced the press after the game while still suffering from a headache caused by the thin air. “At times we managed to escape the pressure and play the ball, but every action cost us physically,” he said. “It was hard to even reach the final third, let alone finish our attacks. We simply didn’t have the oxygen to sustain our usual rhythm.” The stats backed up his words Uruguay managed just seven shots throughout the game, none of which were on target. In contrast, Bolivia had 20 attempts and dominated long spells of possession.
This wasn’t just a case of Uruguay underperforming it was a clear sign of how the relocation of Bolivia’s home matches has altered the dynamics of South American qualifiers. After the 2024 Copa América, the Bolivian Football Federation made the decision to abandon their traditional home in La Paz and instead host matches in nearby El Alto. Though only a short distance separates the two cities, El Alto sits about 500 meters higher. It was a tactical move aimed at increasing the already significant home advantage caused by altitude. And it’s working Bolivia remains unbeaten since the switch and is starting to build a reputation as one of the toughest places in the world to play.
Despite the frustrating performance and the physical ordeal, Uruguay still walked away with a crucial point. With four qualifiers left to play, they remain in a strong position in the CONMEBOL standings, sitting third with 21 points. The top six teams in the ten-nation group automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, while the seventh-placed team will go into an intercontinental playoff for one of the final two spots. With Brazil and Argentina also in the mix, every point matters and Tuesday’s draw in the mountains of El Alto may prove to be one of the most important of Uruguay’s campaign.
Updated: 12:02, 27 Mar 2025
