Ecuador, Brazil’s next opponent in the South American 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, have announced their 26-man squad for the September double-fixture.
Curiously, Ecuador’s roster will feature four footballers currently playing in the Brasileirão: Félix Torres (Corinthians), Alan Franco (Atlético Mineiro), Jhegson Méndez (São Paulo), and Enner Valencia (Internacional).
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The Brazilian national team will host Ecuador at Estádio Couto Pereira in Curitiba on Friday, September 6, at 22:00 (Brasília time) for Matchday 7 of the road to the 2026 World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
¡El momento llegó!
🍻 Junto a @PilsenerEcuador queremos anunciar a los jugadores convocados para los partidos por Eliminatorias 26 contra 🇧🇷 Brasil y 🇵🇪 Perú.
¡Lo nuestro es pa' arriba! pic.twitter.com/J3QzxmMKUZ
— La Tri 🇪🇨 (@LaTri) August 30, 2024
Brazil currently sit sixth in the standings with seven points, just one point behind Ecuador, who are fifth. With the expansion from 32 to 48 teams, South America will have six and a half spots for the 2026 World Cup. The team that finishes seventh will have to go through the intercontinental playoff.
Ecuador head into this match with a new coach: Sebastián Beccacece, who replaced the Spaniard Félix Sánchez Bas, who resigned following a penalty shootout loss to Argentina in the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa América quarterfinals.
Ecuador’s squad to play Brazil and Peru
- Goalkeepers: Ramírez (IDV), Galíndez (Huracán), Napa (Emelec)
- Defenders: Hincapié (Bayer Leverkusen), Pacho (PSG), Félix Torres (Corinthians), Porozo (Leganés), Ordóñez (Club Brugge), Arreaga (New England Revolution), Cristian Ramírez (Ferencvaros), Estupiñán (Brighton), Chávez (Lens), Preciado (Sparta Prague)
- Midfielders: Minda (Cercle Brugge), Gruezo (San Jose Earthquakes), Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea), Alan Franco (Atlético Mineiro), Jhegson Méndez (São Paulo), Sarmiento (Brighton), Vite (Vancouver Whitecaps), Yeboah (Rakow), Corozo (Barcelona-Ecuador), Delgado (FC Dallas), Páez (IDV), Mena (Pachuca), Mercado (Aves)
- Forwards: Enner Valencia (Internacional), Rodríguez (Union Saint-Gilloise), Angulo (Anderlecht), Anthony Valencia (Royal Antwerp)
