Ecuador vs Chile live online: score, stats and updates | 2026 World Cup qualifier

What the coaches said: Nicolás Córdova

Ecuador fans inside the Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado ahead of kick-off.

EFE/ Julio Estrella

Sánchez on Córdova: “I know him - he’s a really good coach"

Speaking to reporters ahead of today’s match, Felix Sánchez also talked about Chile caretaker Nicolás Córdova - a coach the Spaniard is familiar with.

“I know him - he’s a really good coach,” Sánchez said. “He’s very methodical, a keen analyst of the Game. He’s very highly thought of, both as a guy and as a professional. 

“It’s true that he’s just come in and won’t have had a lot of time to get his ideas across, but I’m sure he’s going to send out a well drilled team with a clear game plan.” 

I’m assuming that Sánchez knows Córdova from their respective stints in the Qatari national-team set-up. The latter actually replaced the former as Qatar Under-23s boss in 2020.

What the coaches said: Felix Sánchez

Chile without skipper Medal as Córdova switches things up

As for Chile, interim boss Nicolás Córdova makes four changes to the team that began the goalless draw with Paraguay on Thursday.

Matías Catalán, Felipe Loyola, Marcelino Núñez and Alexander Aravena come into La Roja’s starting line-up, in place of Gary Medel, Víctor Dávila, Ben Brereton Díaz and Vicente Pizarro.

Captain Medel is unavailable through suspension. 

Three changes for Ecuador

Felix Sánchez makes three changes to the Ecuador team that drew 0-0 with Venezuela last week.

Roberto Arboleda, Carlos Gruezo and Ángel Mena are in, with Piero Hincapié, José Cifuentes and Alan Franco making way.

Hincapié and Cifuentes are both suspended.

Chile team news

Nicolás Córdova's Chile line-up has also been confirmed: Cortés; Catalán, Díaz, Maripán, Suazo; Loyola, Pulgar, Echevarría; Núñez; Sánchez, Aravena.

Ecuador team news

Ecuador boss Felix Sánchez has named his line-up. It is: Domínguez, Preciado, Torres, Arboleda, Pacho, Caicedo, Gruezo, Mena, Páez, Sornoza, Rodríguez.

Ecuador won't have forgotten Chile role in Castillo-gate

By the way, Ecuador's points deduction ought to add a nice little bit of edge to tonight's game in Quito - after all, it was Chile who complained to FIFA about Castillo!

(Photo: Andres Pina/Photosport)

Ecuador out to continue 21st-century WC run

Ecuador, who are now coached by former Qatar boss Felix Sánchez, are bidding to reach their fifth World Cup since the turn of the millennium. 

Their World Cup record over the past couple of decades is all the more impressive when you consider that they didn't qualify for a single one in the 20th century.

(Photo: RODRIGO BUENDIA / AFP)

Where are Ecuador in CONMEBOL standings?

As for Ecuador, they've won two and drawn two since losing their opening qualifier to world champions Argentina. However, a three-point deduction means La Tri are level on points with Chile.

The Ecuadorians were docked points by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after they were found to have used ID documents that falsified defender Byron Castillo's place of birth during qualifying for World Cup 2022.

Ecuador currently sit sixth, inside the automatic qualification spots by virtue of goal difference.

Chile out to avoid third straight WC absence

As I mentioned a few moments ago, Chile are bidding to reach their first World Cup since 2014. 

La Roja made it to successive tournaments in 2010 and nine years ago, reaching the knockout stages in both. It was the first time they had qualified for back-to-back World Cups since the 1960s.

However, the Chileans then failed to even make the intercontinental playoff spot in qualifying for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. They haven't missed three World Cups in a row in nearly 30 years.

Where are Chile in the CONMEBOL standings?

As things stand, Chile sit eighth in South America's 10-team qualifying group, outside of the qualification spots on goal difference.

The top six go through to the World Cup automatically, while the seventh-placed team heads into the inter-continental playoffs for a ticket to the tournament.

Córdova steps in as Chile caretaker

Former Chile international Nicolás Córdova has taken interim charge of La Roja, who are in an uphill battle to reach their first World Cup since 2014.

Córdova has been promoted from Chile's youth-team set-up, which he had only joined in August.

(Photo: JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)

Chile reeling from Berizzo resignation

The Chileans go to Ecuador in a state of turmoil, following the sudden resignation of their head coach, Eduardo 'Toto' Berizzo.

Berizzo, who had been in charge since May 2022, announced his departure after Thursday's disappointing draw with Paraguay - a Game that ended goalless despite Chile playing with an extra man for half of the match.

(Photo: Andres Pina/Photosport)

Ecuador vs Chile: welcome!

Good evening, good afternoon, good morning - whichever applies to you.

Welcome to our live-text coverage of Ecuador and Chile's matchday-six World Cup qualifier, which gets underway in Quito at 6:30pm ET/3:30pm PT.

The teams are level on points, but sit either of side of the dividing line between qualification and elimination - so it's fair to say that today's clash in the Ecuadorian capital is muy importante.

Team news should be dropping in about an hour's time.