Ecuador vs Brazil

Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha forms the backdrop for a heavily anticipated 2026 World Cup qualifier between Ecuador and Brazil.

Few would have expected Ecuador to be sitting second in the CONMEBOL standings with just four matchdays remaining, especially after being docked three points for the use of false birth documents involving Byron Castillo during the previous World Cup qualifying cycle. However, that’s where Sebastian Beccacece’s charges find themselves ahead of a high-stakes clash with Brazil. Potentially 90 minutes away from securing back-to-back tournament appearances, La Tri must overcome a daunting record against Brazil. They are winless in the last 13 H2H meetings (D4, L9), a run dating back to October 2006. Encouragingly, their most recent win over the Selecao came at home in a World Cup qualifier. Adding to Ecuador’s optimism, they boast the stingiest defense in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, having conceded just five goals so far.

On the other hand, Brazil will take this trip under new management, with Carlo Ancelotti severing ties with Real Madrid at the end of the 2024/25 club season to take charge of the five-time world champions. The illustrious Italian coach became the first foreign manager in Selecao history, replacing Dorival Junior at the helm after a thumping 4-1 defeat to arch-rivals Argentina in their last World Cup qualifier. Ancelotti’s first task is to get the Brazilians back on track after only winning once in their four most recent qualifying fixtures (D2, L1), conceding a whopping seven goals in that woeful sequence. It’s also worth noting that they scored precisely once in three of those four matches!