Ecuador national football team facts for kids

The Ecuador national football team (called La Selección de fútbol de Ecuador in Spanish), often nicknamed La Tricolor (The Tricolors), represents Ecuador in men's international football games. The team is managed by the Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol (Ecuadorian Football Federation). They joined FIFA in 1926 and CONMEBOL (the South American football confederation) a year later.

Quick facts for kids
Ecuador

Nickname(s)	La Tri (The Tri) La Tricolor (The Tricolors)
Association	Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol (FEF)
Confederation	CONMEBOL (South America)
Head coach	Sebastián Beccacece
Captain	Enner Valencia
Most caps	Iván Hurtado (168)
Top scorer	Enner Valencia (46)
Home stadium	Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado
FIFA code	ECU
First colours Second colours Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current	58 1 (7 February 2019)
Highest	10 (June 2013)
Lowest	71 (November 2017)
Elo ranking
Current	24 5 (3 March 2019)
Highest	11 (27 March 2013)
Lowest	120 (December 1959)
First international
Bolivia 1–1 Ecuador  (Bogotá, Colombia; 8 August 1938)
Biggest win
Ecuador 6–0 Peru  (Quito, Ecuador; 22 June 1975)
Biggest defeat
Argentina 12–0 Ecuador  (Montevideo, Uruguay; 22 January 1942)
World Cup
Appearances	4 (first in 2002)
Best result	Round of 16 (2006)
Copa América
Appearances	30 (first in 1939)
Best result	Fourth place (1959, 1993)
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2002)
Best result	Group stage (2002)

Ecuador was invited to the first FIFA World Cup in Uruguay but did not go. They finally played in their first World Cup in 2002. In the qualifying games, they did very well, finishing above strong teams like Brazil and Uruguay. This success showed off talented players like Agustín Delgado and Iván Hurtado.

The team had a great run in the 2006 World Cup, reaching the Round of 16. This was their best performance ever in the tournament. However, they were eliminated early in the 2007 Copa América. Ecuador has never won the continental tournament. Their best finishes were fourth place in 1959 and 1993, both times when they hosted the event.

Ecuador usually plays its home matches at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito.

History of Ecuadorian Football

For a long time, Ecuador was not considered a very strong football nation in South America. But in recent years, they have become a serious competitor.

Football came to Ecuador thanks to Juan Alfredo Wright. He had studied in England and brought the sport back with him. On April 23, 1899, he and his brother Roberto started the first Ecuadorian football team, Guayaquil Sport Club. As football became more popular, more teams were formed. The national football federation was founded in 1925.

In 1938, Ecuador played its first official match at the 1938 Bolivarian Games. They tied 1–1 with Bolivia. They then beat Colombia 2–1. After some more games, Ecuador won the bronze medal in the tournament.

The Ecuador team that played in the 1942 South American Championship.

Ecuador first tried to qualify for the World Cup in 1962 but lost to Argentina. In the 1998 World Cup qualifiers, the format changed to a home-and-away system. This helped Ecuador a lot, as they won many important games at home. They finished 6th, just missing out on qualification.

Michael Arroyo taking a free kick against Switzerland at the 2014 World Cup.

Under coach Hernán Darío Gómez, Ecuador made history in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. They beat Brazil 1–0 and needed just one point to qualify. They got that point with a 1–1 draw against Uruguay, earning their first trip to the World Cup.

At the 2002 World Cup, Ecuador lost their first game to Italy. Agustín Delgado scored Ecuador's first World Cup goal in a 2–1 loss to Mexico. Even though they beat Croatia, Ecuador finished fourth in their group.

After a disappointing 2004 Copa América, Luis Fernando Suárez became the coach. He led them to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In Germany, Ecuador won against Poland and Costa Rica, making it to the knockout stages for the first time.

After a less successful 2014 FIFA World Cup and some early exits from the Copa América, Gustavo Quinteros took over as coach. He helped Ecuador reach the quarter-finals of the Copa América Centenario in 2016. However, they did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

Hernán Darío Gómez returned as coach for the 2019 Copa América, but his second time with the team was short. He was fired after the team only earned one point in the tournament.

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Ecuador faced a penalty. They were deducted three points and fined because a player had a passport with incorrect information in the previous World Cup qualifying games.

Home Stadium

The Ecuador national team plays its home games at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito. This stadium opened in 1951 and can hold 35,724 fans.

An aerial view of the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in 2017.

The stadium has a running track, which is important for athletics events in South America. There are 15 gates around the stadium, allowing people to leave quickly in about 10 minutes. It also has a large electronic scoreboard, which is 10 meters tall and 30 meters wide.

Many important matches have been played here. Ecuador defeated Uruguay in the 1993 Copa América and Brazil in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. On November 7, 2001, Ecuador tied with Uruguay in this stadium, which meant they qualified for their first World Cup.

The Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa was planned to be replaced by a newer stadium, but Ecuador decided not to host the Copa América in 2022. For the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Ecuador played at the Casa Blanca.

Team Uniform and Crest

The Ecuador team posing before a match against Argentina in October 2017.

The standard uniform for Ecuador uses the colors of the national flag: a yellow top, blue shorts, and red socks. The away uniform is usually white and blue, based on the flag of the Guayas Province.

From 1965 to 2020, the team's crest featured the Andean condor, which is Ecuador's national bird. In January 2020, the Ecuadorian Football Federation changed its logo. The new crest is a navy blue shield with the letters "FEF" designed to look like a condor.

Kit Sponsors

Kit supplier	Period
Adidas	1985
Credeport	1986–1990
Puma	1991–1992
Reebok	1993–1994
Marathon	1994–present

Recent Matches and Schedule

This section shows Ecuador's match results from the last year and upcoming games.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2024 Matches

Brazil  v  Ecuador

6 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Brazil	1–0	Ecuador	Curitiba, Brazil
22:00 UTC−3	Rodrygo  30'			Stadium: Estádio Couto Pereira Attendance: 36,914 Referee: Facundo Tello (Argentina)

Ecuador  v  Peru

10 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Ecuador	1–0	Peru	Quito, Ecuador
16:00 UTC−5	Valencia  54'			Stadium: Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado Attendance: 35,000 Referee: Andrés Rojas (Colombia)

Ecuador  v  Paraguay

10 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Ecuador	0–0	Paraguay	Quito, Ecuador
16:00 UTC−5				Stadium: Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado Attendance: 31,000 Referee: Raphael Claus (Brazil)

Uruguay  v  Ecuador

15 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Uruguay	0–0	Ecuador	Montevideo, Uruguay
20:30 UTC−3				Stadium: Estadio Centenario Attendance: 27,112 Referee: Cristian Garay (Chile)

Ecuador  v  Bolivia

14 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Ecuador	4–0	Bolivia	Guayaquil, Ecuador
19:00 UTC−5	Valencia  26' (pen.) Plata  28', 49' Minda  61'			Stadium: Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo Attendance: 30,758 Referee: Maximiliano Ramírez (Argentina)

Colombia  v  Ecuador

19 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Colombia	0–1	Ecuador	Barranquilla, Colombia
18:00 UTC−5			Valencia  7'	Stadium: Estadio Metropolitano Attendance: 37,316 Referee: Esteban Ostojich (Uruguay)

2025 Matches

Ecuador  v  Venezuela

21 March 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Ecuador	2–1	Venezuela	Quito, Ecuador
16:00 UTC−5	Valencia  39', 46'		Cádiz  90+1'	Stadium: Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado Attendance: 41,575 Referee: Ramon Abatti (Brazil)

Chile  v  Ecuador

25 March 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Chile	0–0	Ecuador	Santiago, Chile
21:00 UTC−3				Stadium: Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos Attendance: 38,996 Referee: Gustavo Tejera (Uruguay)

Ecuador  v  Brazil

5 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Ecuador	0–0	Brazil	Guayaquil, Ecuador
18:00 UTC−5				Stadium: Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo Attendance: 59,283 Referee: Piero Maza (Chile)

Peru  v  Ecuador

10 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Peru	0–0	Ecuador	Lima, Peru
20:30 UTC−5				Stadium: Estadio Nacional Attendance: 33,749 Referee: Andrés Rojas (Colombia)

Paraguay  v  Ecuador

4 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Paraguay	v	Ecuador	Asunción, Paraguay
20:30 UTC−3				Stadium: Estadio Defensores del Chaco

Ecuador  v  Argentina

9 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Ecuador	v	Argentina	Guayaquil, Ecuador
18:00 UTC−5				Stadium: Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo

United States  v  Ecuador

10 October Friendly	United States	v	Ecuador	Austin, United States
19:30 UTC−5				Stadium: Q2 Stadium

Mexico  v  Ecuador

14 October Friendly	Mexico	v	Ecuador	Zapopan, Mexico
				Stadium: Estadio Akron

Team Coaches

The current head coach for the Ecuador national football team is Sebastián Beccacece from Argentina. He leads a team of assistant coaches, a goalkeeper coach, and a fitness coach.

Position	Name
Head coach	Sebastián Beccacece
Assistant coach	Nicolás Chiesa Guillermo Marino
Goalkeeper coach	Gustavo Campagnuolo
Fitness coach	Martín Bressan

Current Players

The following players were chosen for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Brazil and Peru in June 2025.

The number of games played (Caps) and goals scored are correct as of June 10, 2025, after the match against Peru.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Hernán Galíndez	(1987-03-30) 30 March 1987 (age 38)	27	0	Huracán
12	1GK	Moisés Ramírez	(2000-09-09) 9 September 2000 (age 24)	6	0	Independiente del Valle
22	1GK	Gonzalo Valle	(1996-02-28) 28 February 1996 (age 29)	2	0	LDU Quito
	1GK	David Cabezas	(1995-06-12) 12 June 1995 (age 30)	0	0	El Nacional
2	2DF	Félix Torres	(1997-01-11) 11 January 1997 (age 28)	45	5	Corinthians
3	2DF	Piero Hincapié	(2002-01-09) 9 January 2002 (age 23)	46	3	Bayer Leverkusen
4	2DF	Joel Ordóñez	(2004-04-21) 21 April 2004 (age 21)	8	0	Club Brugge
5	2DF	Cristian Ramírez	(1994-08-12) 12 August 1994 (age 31)	22	1	Ferencváros
6	2DF	Willian Pacho	(2001-10-16) 16 October 2001 (age 23)	26	2	Paris Saint-Germain
7	2DF	Pervis Estupiñán	(1998-01-21) 21 January 1998 (age 27)	48	4	Brighton & Hove Albion
14	2DF	Xavier Arreaga	(1994-09-28) 28 September 1994 (age 30)	20	1	Barcelona
17	2DF	Ángelo Preciado	(1998-02-18) 18 February 1998 (age 27)	48	0	Sparta Prague
8	3MF	Yaimar Medina	(2004-11-05) 5 November 2004 (age 20)	2	0	Genk
9	3MF	John Yeboah	(2000-06-23) 23 June 2000 (age 25)	14	2	Venezia
10	3MF	Kendry Páez	(2007-05-04) 4 May 2007 (age 18)	18	2	Chelsea
15	3MF	Pedro Vite	(2002-03-09) 9 March 2002 (age 23)	8	1	Vancouver Whitecaps
16	3MF	Alan Minda	(2003-05-14) 14 May 2003 (age 22)	14	2	Cercle Brugge
18	3MF	Denil Castillo	(2004-03-24) 24 March 2004 (age 21)	1	0	Midtjylland
20	3MF	Bryan Ramírez	(2000-08-11) 11 August 2000 (age 25)	0	0	LDU Quito
21	3MF	Alan Franco	(1998-08-21) 21 August 1998 (age 27)	50	1	Atlético Mineiro
23	3MF	Moisés Caicedo	(2001-11-02) 2 November 2001 (age 23)	55	3	Chelsea
	3MF	Jhegson Méndez	(1997-04-26) 26 April 1997 (age 28)	38	0	Independiente del Valle
11	4FW	Kevin Rodríguez	(2000-03-04) 4 March 2000 (age 25)	25	2	Union Saint-Gilloise
13	4FW	Enner Valencia (captain)	(1989-11-04) 4 November 1989 (age 35)	98	46	Internacional
19	4FW	Nilson Angulo	(2003-06-19) 19 June 2003 (age 22)	6	0	Anderlecht
	4FW	John Mercado	(2002-06-03) 3 June 2002 (age 23)	4	0	AVS

Players Called Up Recently

These players have been called up to the team in the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Gilmar Napa	(2003-01-05) 5 January 2003 (age 22)	0	0	Emelec	v.  Peru, 10 September 2024
DF	Carlos Gruezo	(1995-04-19) 19 April 1995 (age 30)	65	1	LDU Quito	v.  Colombia, 19 November 2024
DF	Jhoanner Chávez	(2002-04-25) 25 April 2002 (age 23)	6	0	Lens	v.  Colombia, 19 November 2024
DF	Jackson Porozo	(2000-08-04) 4 August 2000 (age 25)	8	0	Tijuana	v.  Peru, 10 September 2024
MF	Gonzalo Plata	(2000-11-01) 1 November 2000 (age 24)	43	8	Flamengo	v.  Peru, 10 June 2025 INJ
MF	Janner Corozo	(1995-09-08) 8 September 1995 (age 29)	7	1	Barcelona	v.  Chile, 25 March 2025
MF	Keny Arroyo	(2006-02-14) 14 February 2006 (age 19)	2	0	Beşiktaş	v.  Chile, 25 March 2025
MF	Darwin Guagua	(2007-11-06) 6 November 2007 (age 17)	1	0	Independiente del Valle	v.  Chile, 25 March 2025
MF	Patrik Mercado	(2003-07-31) 31 July 2003 (age 22)	0	0	Independiente del Valle	v.  Chile, 25 March 2025
MF	Ángel Mena	(1988-01-21) 21 January 1988 (age 37)	62	8	Orense	v.  Colombia, 19 November 2024RET
MF	Jeremy Sarmiento	(2002-06-16) 16 June 2002 (age 23)	24	2	Brighton & Hove Albion	v.  Colombia, 19 November 2024
MF	Óscar Zambrano	(2004-04-20) 20 April 2004 (age 21)	0	0	LDU Quito	v.  Uruguay, 15 October 2024
MF	Patrickson Delgado	(2003-10-17) 17 October 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Dallas	v.  Peru, 10 September 2024
FW	Leonardo Campana	(2000-07-24) 24 July 2000 (age 25)	16	0	New England Revolution	v.  Peru, 10 June 2025 INJ
FW	Anthony Valencia	(2003-07-21) 21 July 2003 (age 22)	0	0	Antwerp	v.  Peru, 10 September 2024
INJ Withdrew from the squad due to injury. PRE Preliminary squad / standby. RET Retired from the national team. SUS Withdrew from the squad due to suspension.

Retired Jersey Numbers

After the death of player Christian Benítez, the Ecuadorian Football Federation decided that his jersey number 11 would no longer be used by the national team. This was done to honor him. However, because of FIFA rules, the number had to be used again for the 2014 World Cup squad.

Player Records

Here are some records for players who have played for Ecuador. Players whose names are in bold are still playing for the national team.

Most Games Played

Iván Hurtado has played the most games for Ecuador, with 168 appearances.

Top Goal Scorers

Enner Valencia is Ecuador's top scorer with 46 goals.

Team Achievements

Regional Competitions

• Bolivarian Games
  • Gold medal (1): 1965
  • Bronze medal (1): 1938

Friendly Tournaments

• Korea Cup (1): 1995
• Canada Cup (1): 1999

Images for kids

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  Jordi Cruijff became the manager of Ecuador in 2020.

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Ecuador para niños