he played a key role in 2014 fifa world cup qualification, scoring the goal that secured qualification for the 2014 fifa world cup, heading a goal against ecuador. medel captained chile in a 1–0 friendly defeat to germany on 5 march 2014. he was one of 23 players who were called up by coach jorge sampaoli to play in 2014 fifa world cup in brazil. medel played as a starter alongside gonzalo jara in the center of defence, for chile who beat australia 3–1 in cuiabá to get first three points of the world cup campaign. he also played a full 90 minutes in second match against current world champions spain, with chile getting a historic 2–0 win. spain's loss sealed the qualification of both chile and the netherlands to the knockout stage, and eliminated both spain and australia. spain became the fifth defending champions to be knocked out in the group stage, and the first since 1950 to be eliminated after only two games (italy were drawn into a three-team group and only played two games in 1950). medel played 90 minutes in the final group match against the netherlands who won 2–0 and won the group, while chile finished group b as runner-up with six points. chile were eliminated in the round of 16 against the same team that eliminated them in last tournament, brazil, but this time, brazil advanced to the quarter-finals by winning on penalty shootout.