Why did Chile decide to lose their game against Uruguay? They had to win to even have a chance at reaching the semi finals of the tournament. They also needed a win to go to the Worlds Repechage. I don't understand Chile's logic behind tanking the game against Uruguay. They just cost themselves any chance they had at qualifying for worlds next season.
You're exactly right, however avoiding the repechage was their intention. If you enter the repe tournament but don't actually make it to worlds (which they clearly felt they didn't have a great chance), then you have to start the consolation tournament in week 3 at 0-2 with relatively lower enthusiasm. If you go directly to the consolation tournament, then you start week 1 at 0-0 with the same enthusiasm as everyone else. The team from America's that gets the furthest in the consolation tournament gets to host America's the following season. Their plan is to go the furthest in next seasons consolation tournament, get home court for next America's, and then try to qualify directly for worlds then.