Santiago, Feb 8 (UNI) Chile manager Ricardo Gareca has insisted that his team can overcome a lackluster run of results to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Roja is currently ninth in the 10-team South American qualifying group with just two wins from 12 outings. But Gareca, who replaced fellow Argentine Eduardo Berizzo as Chile boss in January 2024, said his team's destiny remained in its own hands with six qualifiers remaining.
"We are convinced that we can reverse this situation," the 66-year-old told a news conference ahead of a friendly against Panama at Estadio Nacional in Santiago on Saturday.
The top six teams in the South American group will earn an automatic berth in football's showpiece tournament - to be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada next year - while the seventh-ranked side will advance to an intercontinental playoff.
"We know it's going to be an enormous challenge and every game is going to be difficult. But our job is to fight until the end. We have a lot of faith and confidence," the former Boca Juniors and Argentina international forward said.
Gareca will use the clash with Panama as a chance to test his squad ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Ecuador next month.
"It helps us to expand our universe of players, which is going to be very important," Gareca said. "It's a nice chance to put into practice what we've been working on in training and try to play well in front of our own fans."
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