Current FIFA Ranking: 23
Highest FIFA Ranking: 10 (June 2013)
Lowest FIFA Ranking: 71 (Nov 2017)
Football Team Nickname: La Tricolor, El Tri
Honours: None
Head coach: Sebastian Beccacece (since Aug 2024)
Top scorer in qualifying: Enner Valencia (6)
Star players: Enner Valencia (Pachuca), Felix Torres (Corinthians), Gonzalo Plata (Flamengo)
Ecuador opened the 2022 World Cup with a 2-0 win against hosts Qatar but ended third in the group following a draw with Netherlands and defeat to Senegal. However, their 2026 qualifying campaign ended up being the best in their history, winning 32 points from 18 matches (excludes 3 points deducted for use of false birth documents for Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup qualification cycle).
The evergreen Enner Valencia, scorer of the first goal of the finals in 2022, will once against lead the team and lead the line – he is set to feature at his third finals.
In four previous World Cup appearances, they have progressed from the group stage just once – reached the Round of 16 in 2006 where David Beckham’s 60th minute free-kick ended their involvement.
Appointed Argentine Sebastian Beccacece as their new head coach in August 2024 – he has lost just 1 of 16 matches in charge.
Previous World Cup appearances (4):
2022: Group stage (Netherlands, Senegal, Qatar)
2014: Group stage
2006: Round of 16
2002: Group stage
