Yahoo Movies Ecuador World Cup 2022 squad list, fixtures and latest odds
Ecuador face a high bar of competition if they are to match the World Cup prowess of their South American neighbours.
The good news at least is that they will hold on to their place at the tournament, after months of discussion over player ineligibility that could have threatened their participation.
The Chilean federation lodged a complaint with the Fifa appeals over Byron Castillo, who it claimed was not born in Ecuador, and argued that Ecuador should forfeit the World Cup qualifying matches he had played in.
Fifa's disciplinary committee closed the proceedings in June but the Chileans appealed, leading to a new hearing before the appeals committee.
However, that too has now been dismissed with a Fifa statement saying: "Amongst other considerations, (the committee) deemed that on the basis of the documents presented, the player was to be considered as holding permanent Ecuadorian nationality."
The Chilean federation took their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with only weeks to go before the World Cup, but CAS ruled that Castillo was Ecuadorian, punishing Ecuador on one count only: use of a document containing false information.
Ecuador will receive a fine, and a three-point deduction at the start of their qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
Castillo played in eight of Ecuador's 18 qualifying games for the World Cup. Ecuador have denied that the player was ineligible.
Ecuador picked up 14 of their 26 points in matches Castillo played. Losing points for the games in which Castillo appeared would have meant they missed out on a place in Qatar.
Ecuador World Cup 2022 squad
Goalkeepers: Alexander Dominguez (Liga de Quito), Hernan Galindez (Aucas), Moises Ramirez (Independiente del Valle).
Defenders: Pervis Estupinan (Brighton & Hove Albion), Angelo Preciado (Gent), Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen), Xavier Arreaga (Seattle Sounders), Diego Palacios (Los Angeles FC), Jackson Porozo (Troyes), Robert Arboleda (Sao Paulo), Felix Torres (Santos Laguna), William Pacho (Royal Antwerp FC).
Midfielders: Moises Caicedo (Brighton), Jose Cifuentes (Los Angeles FC), Alan Franco (Talleres), Jhegson Mendez (Los Angeles FC), Carlos Gruezo (Augsburg), Gonzalo Plata (Valladolid), Angel Mena (Leon), Ayrton Preciado (Santos Laguna), Romario Ibarra (Pachuca), Jeremy Sarmiento (Brighton)
Forwards: Enner Valencia (Fenerbahce), Michael Estrada (Cruz Azul), Djorkaeff Reasco (Newell's Old Boys), Kevin Rodriguez (Imbabura SC) (Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City).
Who is likely to be the star name in the squad?
Former West Ham striker Enner Valencia, now 32, is almost certain to make the squad and remains the team’s most experienced forward. Now signed with Fenerbahce, he scored four goals in qualification.
This could be a big tournament for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo, with Real Madrid reportedly interested in signing the 21-year-old as a replacement for Luka Modric. His transfer value could sky-rocket if Ecuador have a strong run and he plays well.
What are Ecuador's fixtures?
What is Ecuador’s World Cup record?
This will be Ecuador's fourth World Cup. They first appeared in Japan and South Korea in 2002, before competing at Germany 2006 and Brazil 2014.
They reached the round of 16 in 2006, their best result.
Ecuador raised eyebrows in the South American qualifiers, winning away in Chile, losing to Paraguay, and drawing to Argentina and Brazil, which saw them reach fourth spot ahead of Peru, Colombia, Chile and Paraguay.
Recent form is promising, winning two and drawing three of their last six matches, including a 1-1 tie with Argentina.
The Andeans, who have qualified alongside regional powerhouses Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, have now qualified for four of the last six finals, a better record than the likes of Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru.
Argentina | Australia | Belgium | Brazil | Cameroon | Canada | Costa Rica | Croatia | Denmark | Ecuador | England | France | Germany | Ghana | Iran | Japan | Mexico | Morocco | Netherlands | Poland | Portugal | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | Senegal | Serbia | South Korea | Spain | Switzerland | Tunisia | Uruguay | USA | Wales
Latest odds
Ecuador are currently a best price of 150/1 to win the World Cup 2022.
The leading contenders...
Brazil 4/1
Argentina 11/2
France 6/1
England 8/1
Spain 17/2
Germany 10/1
Information correct as of November 13
