CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela has fired coach Fernando Batista after the men’s national team failed — again — to qualify for the World Cup.

Venezuela, the only South American team to have never competed in a World Cup, arrived at the last round of qualifiers needing a win over Colombia to secure the seventh place in the standings that grants a spot in the international playoffs.

But Batista’s team lost 6-3, and Bolivia defeated Brazil 1-0 to secure the ticket for the 2026 World Cup playoffs.

Venezuela’s soccer federation said late Wednesday the 55-year-old Batista, who spent 20 months at the helm, was fired “due to the fact that the objectives in this cycle were not achieved.”

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