Secret Clause in Gareca’s Contract Could Trigger His Exit from Chile Job

Ricardo Gareca's tenure as head coach of the Chilean national team could end abruptly, depending on tonight’s result against Ecuador. Chile sits at the bottom of the South American qualifying table and is in desperate need of three points to keep even the slimmest hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup alive.

Reports suggest that Gareca's contract with the team includes a special clause: if Chile is mathematically eliminated from reaching the World Cup (even via playoff), the contract will immediately become void, according to RedGol.

With just one win in seven qualifying matches, Gareca’s record has fallen short of expectations. The clause could be activated as soon as the next game against Argentina if Bolivia wins its next two fixtures and Chile fails to collect points, making qualification impossible. Though his contract is officially valid until June 2026, the coach’s fate may hinge on results that are out of his hands.

The next few days could define the end of his short and troubled era with La Roja.