- Félix Salvatierra took charge of Bolivia’s beach soccer team at the end of 2024 and is eager to secure a spot at the World Cup.
- He is also the president of Camba Pizzero FC, a Chilean club that has competed in two editions of the CONMEBOL Libertadores Fútbol Playa.
At 34 years old, Salvatierra is preparing for his first major test as Bolivia’s head coach. Based in Chile, he leads a top beach soccer club with international experience—knowledge that could prove valuable as he guides La Verde in this tournament.
- How did you get into beach soccer?
"Three years ago. I’m the president of a club in Chile, where I live. We’ve played in the Libertadores twice and achieved good results. A lot of opportunities aligned for me. This sport has grown tremendously in popularity, so I decided to focus on beach soccer. The success I had with my team helped me get here."
- You live in Chile and manage a club there. Does that give you an advantage for the first match?
"I know Chilean beach soccer well. Three players from my club are on their national team, and I’m familiar with some of their strategies. I’ll try to make things a little uncomfortable for them."
- How much of a factor will home-field advantage be for Chile?
"There’s a strong beach soccer fan base in Chile, and stadiums are always packed for these tournaments. We’ll be under some pressure, but we’re used to playing in front of big crowds. We’ve also worked with psychologists to prepare our players to handle it, no matter the atmosphere."
- Is the national team working with psychologists?
"Yes, from day one. In the project I presented, I emphasized the importance of having a psychologist because it’s crucial for both the team and the individual players."
- In what area has the team improved the most since you took over?
"Bolivia has traditionally played a ground-based style in beach soccer. We’ve focused a lot on aerial play. Now, out of the 12 players, six have mastered the ball well and can execute beautiful bicycle kicks—something we hadn’t seen before in our national team."
- The team finished eighth in the last CONMEBOL Copa América Fútbol Playa™. What are your goals for this tournament?
"Our goal is to achieve a great result and qualify Bolivia for the World Cup. We’re mentally and physically prepared. Our first focus is on the opening match against Chile, the host nation. We want to take those first three points and then advance step by step."
- How do you assess your group?
"Our first two matches, against Chile and Colombia, will be key. Chile has been preparing since September, and Colombia is also in great form, having played international friendlies. We’ve analyzed Colombia in detail. These are the two strongest teams in our group, and beating them would put us in a great position to advance."
Bolivia will make its tournament debut against Chile on February 22, closing out the first day of competition in Iquique.
