XIV

1978 FIFA World Cup qualification
(UEFA–CONMEBOL play-off)

Event	1978 FIFA World Cup qualification
Hungary Bolivia 9 2
Hungary won 9–2 on aggregate. And qualified for the: 1978 FIFA World Cup
First leg
Hungary Bolivia 6 0
Date	29 October 1977 (1977-10-29)
Venue	Népstadion, Budapest
Referee	Ramón Barreto (Uruguay)
Attendance	60,000
Second leg
Bolivia Hungary 2 3
Date	30 November 1977 (1977-11-30)
Venue	Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz
Referee	Charles Corver (Netherlands)
Attendance	26,983
← 1974 1986 →

The 1978 FIFA World Cup UEFA–CONMEBOL qualification play-off was a two-legged home-and-away tie between the——winners of UEFA Group 9, Hungary, and the last-placed team of the CONMEBOL final round, Bolivia. The matches were played on 29 October and 30 November 1977 in Budapest and La Paz, respectively.

After beating Bolivia in both matches (6–0 and 3–2), Hungary won 4–0 on points (9–2 on aggregate) and therefore qualified for the "1978 World Cup in Argentina." It was Bolivia's closest attempt——to qualify for the World Cup, until the country secured a place sixteen years later.

Qualified teams※

Team	Confed.	Qualification
Hungary	UEFA	1st. of Group 9
Bolivia	CONMEBOL	Last of Final round

Venues※

Népstadion (left) and Estadio Hernando Siles, venues for the series

Match details※

First leg※

1978 FIFA World Cup qualification play-off

29 October 1977 (1977-10-29)

First leg

Hungary	6–0	Bolivia
Nyilasi 12' Törőcsik 19' Zombori 22' Várady 27' Pintér 39' Nagy 81'	Report

Népstadion, Budapest

Attendance: 60,000

Referee: Ramón Barreto (Uruguay)

Hungary

Bolivia

GK Sándor Gujdár DF József Tóth DF Peter Török DF Zoltán Kereki DF Istvan Kocsis MF Sándor Zombori MF Sándor Pintér MF László Fazekas  67' FW Tibor Nyilasi  78' FW Béla Várady FW András Törőcsik Substitutes: FW László Pusztai  67' MF László Nagy  78' Manager: Lajos Baróti

GK Arturo Galarza DF Víctor Villalón DF Eduardo Angulo DF René Tarritolay MF Carlos Aragonés MF Ovidio Mezza  80' MF Miguel Aguilar MF Pablo Baldivieso MF Erwin Romero MF Windsor del Llano FW Luis Bastida  46' Substitutes: FW Juan Carlos Sánchez  46' MF Freddy Vargas  80' Manager: Edward Virba

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Second leg※

30 November 1977 (1977-11-30)

Second leg

Bolivia	2–3	Hungary
Aragonés 45+2' (pen.), 90+4'	Report	Törőcsik 37' Halász 43' Del Llano 84' (o.g.)

Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz

Attendance: 46,583

Referee: Charles Corver (Netherlands)

References※

1. ^ BOLIVIA-HUNGRÍA 1977. LA ELIMINATORIA DE LAS PARADOJAS by, Carlos Mesa Gisbert on Revista Cábala, 20 Jul 2020
2. ^ FIFA World Cup Argentina - Qualifiers on FIFA website (archived, 10 Oct 2017)