The Venezuelan national soccer team announced this Wednesday that it will play two friends in the United States next October, against Argentina and Belize, after the dismissal of Argentine coach Fernando 'Bocha' Batista.

La Vinotinto will play against Argentina at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on October 10. Four days Later, they will face Belize at Seatgeek Stadium in Chicago.

Vinotinto left without a coach after failure in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

On September 10, the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) announced the dismissal of Batista after failing to achieve his goal of qualifying the South American country for the international playoffs for the 2026 World Cup.

A day earlier, the national team had lost 3-6 to Colombia in Maturin on the eighteenth and final day of the South American qualifiers. With that result, they lost seventh place to Bolivia, who simultaneously beat Brazil 1-0.

In a statement, the FVF announced that Batista had been removed from his duties along with "his entire coaching staff," considering "a change of direction necessary to ensure that the Vinotinto continues advancing in its process of growth and consolidation."

Batista arrived at the Venezuelan national team's bench on March 10, 2023, after the resignation of Jose Pekerman.

For his part, the Argentine indicated that his departure from the Vinotinto "is the best thing so that the team can continue searching for its path."

To date, the FVF has not announced who will be the next coach of the Venezuelan eleven. According to reports, Cesar Farias, Ricardo Gareca, and Juan Carlos Osorio are some of the names that have been linked to the position.

Venezuela remains one of the teams that has never played in a World Cup.