The successor is sought
Rulers demanded discharge: national coach must go
11.09.2025 – 12:54 p.m.Reading time: 1 min.
Venezuela has never participated in a World Cup. Nothing will change in the coming year. So the trainer has to go.
The Venezuelan Football Association has released national coach Fernando Batista after failure in the World Cup qualification. This was preceded by a public claim of President Nicolás Maduro, who asked for a “reorganization” of the coaching team.
After the 3: 6 defeat against Colombia, which sealed the end in qualification, Maduro had spoken of a “painful defeat”. All Venezuela now wants a “restructuring” and a “new orientation of the strategy based on struggle and hard work,” said the president. A successor for the Argentinian Batista has not yet been named.
The authoritarian ruler’s intervention in sporting decisions raises questions – political influence on football associations is prohibited, according to the statutes of the World Association FIFA.
Venezuela remains the only country in the South American continental association of Conmebol, which has never participated in a World Cup. On the last matchday, Bolivia secured the place in the intercontinental play-offs for the 2026 tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico.