Iván Román Gets Surprise Chile Call-Up for Argentina and Bolivia Matches

In a surprise move, Chile head coach Ricardo Gareca has called up young defender Iván Román for the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Bolivia. As reported by Bolavip, the late addition comes amid a string of injuries that have forced changes to La Roja’s roster.

Chile will first face Argentina in Santiago before traveling to El Alto to take on Bolivia—two key fixtures in their road to the 2026 World Cup. With Charles Aránguiz, Luciano Cabral, and Paulo Díaz ruled out due to injury, Gareca has opted to bring in new blood.

Román, a 21-year-old center-back currently with Atlético Mineiro, receives his first senior team call-up. The former Palestino prospect has played 91 minutes in Brazil’s Série A and 74 in the Copa Sudamericana, showing promise in limited appearances for the Belo Horizonte club.

His inclusion had been called for by fans who admired his rise at Palestino and his transition to South American football’s top tier. With Chile’s defense under scrutiny for recent performances, Román is seen as both a long-term investment and a short-term reinforcement.

As Gareca searches for consistency in results, Román’s sudden arrival injects hope—and pressure—into a squad that desperately needs points to stay in contention for a World Cup berth.