Ecuador vs Colombia

Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado forms the backdrop for a handsomely-looking FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifier between Ecuador and Colombia.

Kevin Rodriguez’s 96th-minute heroics inspired Ecuador to a sixth straight win over Bolivia last time out, maintaining their form resurgence after a 1-0 away loss to Argentina at the start of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign (W2). If it weren’t for a three-point deduction the CONMEBOL confederation handed them at the beginning of this cycle, they would’ve commenced this round in third. But given the circumstances, ‘La Tri’ must settle for fourth place, which still puts them in a decent position to reach back-to-back World Cup finals for the second time in history. Félix Sánchez’s men have drawn a blank in their last two competitive games against Colombia (D1, L1). Yet, after winning both home outings in 2023, they’ll be confident about breaking that duck.

On the other hand, Colombia’s qualifying campaign got off to a flying start with a 1-0 home win over Venezuela, increasing the likelihood of their first World Cup appearance since 2018. But they’ve since drawn back-to-back qualifiers, conceding a heartbreaking stoppage-time equalizer in a 2-2 stalemate against Uruguay at the weekend. Bidding to become the first nation to pick up a win on Ecuadorian soil in over two years, ‘Los Cafeteros’ must do it without first-choice goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, who picked up a red against Uruguay. However, the visitors head into proceedings amid a purple patch, having gone unbeaten in their last 14 internationals (W10, D4) in a run stretching back to May 2022. That’s a perfect confidence boost as they bid to avenge a 6-1 defeat in Quito from the previous World Cup qualifying campaign.