Ecuador compete in Group Five of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Record:
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Best World Cup finish: Round of 16 in 2006
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FIFA ranking: 23
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Last World Cup appearance: 2022 (eliminated in group stage)
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Nickname: La Tri (after the three colours of the flag)
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Top clubs: Barcelona SC, Club Sport Emelec, El Nacional, Liga de Quito
Qualification: Ecuador finished second in the fiercely competitive South American qualifying campaign, behind defending world champions Argentina and ahead of Colombia, Uruguay, and Brazil, securing automatic qualification to the North American World Cup. La Tri were not prolific — scoring only nine goals in 12 matches — but their qualification was built on an impressive defensive solidity, conceding just two goals throughout the entire campaign.
Coach: Argentine Sebastián Beccacece, formerly an assistant to Jorge Sampaoli and previously manager at Elche, took over from Spanish coach Félix Sánchez — who had previously managed Qatar — following Copa América 2024 (quarter-final exit). After an opening loss to Brazil in Curitiba in September 2024 (1–0), Ecuador went unbeaten under him, with five wins and six draws including notable victories over Colombia in Barranquilla (1–0) and Argentina at home (1–0).
Star players: Opinion is divided between Chelsea midfielder Moisés Caicedo and PSG defender Willian Pacho as Ecuador's best player. Both are pillars of one of the most talented generations Ecuador has produced, embodying the defensive solidity Beccacece has built.
Ambitions: In a group where Germany appear near-certain favourites and Curaçao are the weakest link, Ecuador have a legitimate aim of reaching the Round of 16. Facing direct competition with Ivory Coast for second place, La Tri will be targeting their best ever World Cup result — a Round of 16 appearance in 2006 in Germany, where they lost 1–0 to England.