World Cup 2026: CONMEBOL Qualifying is Hotting Up

Colombia vs Ecuador

With full respect to Colombia and Ecuador, this is not exactly what you’d call a heavyweight South American clash.

Yet, as it stands, both nations are on course to qualify for the World Cup 2026.

There again, it’s only just beyond the halfway stage of World Cup qualifying so, while world champions Argentina (22 points from 11 games) and Colombia (19 points) are in a healthy position, it’s a bit closer with just five points separating the next six nations.

One of them is Ecuador who currently sit in fifth spot (16 points) in the CONMEBOL standings, level with Paraguay.

So with only the top six guaranteed a place in the US, and Bolivia and Venezuela (12) not too far adrift, there is much to play for in the Estadio Metropolitano next Tuesday.

Talking Points

Ecuador, who have had their moments in the past – including holding Holland to a group stage draw in Qatar two years ago – warmed up for this game by seeing off Bolivia 4-0 which consolidated fifth spot and moved them four points ahead of their opponents who were hampered by Jose Sagredo’s 24^th minute dismissal for handball.

Enner Valencia opened the scoring with the resulting penalty and the outcome was rarely in doubt after that.

Just two minutes later, Valencia provided an assist from the right for Gonzalo Plata.

Gonzalo Plata scored twice in Ecuador's last World Cup 2026 qualifiers match — Ecuador’s Gonzalo Plata in action against Bolivia

Down to 10 men and at sea level in Guayaquil, without the advantage of altitude that they usually have at home, Bolivia struggled to keep up.

Valencia had a goal disallowed for offside, but the onslaught continued unabated and, three minutes after the restart, Valencia found space in the box and backheeled for Plata to slot home his second.

The fourth was authored by Alan Minda, who unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the area.

Matters didn’t go so well for Colombia a few hours later as a last gasp goal from Manchester United’s new signing Manuel Ugarte (in the 10^th minute of stoppage time, in fact), fired Uruguay to victory to move into second place in the standings (level on points with Los Cafeteros).

This came after they thought they had rescued a point through Andrés Gómez in the 96th minute.

Alas, Colombia, who took the lead via a Juan Fernando Quintero free-kick, went down to defeat.

As both sides seek to move closer to the 2026 showpiece in the United States, you have to come to the conclusion that Colombia have more potential matchwinners in their ranks.

They can turn on style too as shown in September when they gained a modicum of revenge, seeing off world champions Argentina, less than two months after they were pipped for glory by the same opponents in the final of the Copa America.

After their late setback in Montevideo, I think they will bounce back to deliver World Cup qualifying highlights against their compatriots who are ranked 17 places below them in the official FIFA rankings.

History

Colombia and Ecuador first met in the 1938 Bolivarian Games in Bogota.

Tomas Emilio Mier scored for Colombia but Ecuador emerged 2-1 winners, thanks to goals from Augusto Freire and E. Herrera.

That is one of 13 victories Ecuador have enjoyed in this fixture but they have only managed one in the past eight meetings.

That came in a World Cup qualifier in November 2020, a match played behind closed door due to Covid restrictions.

On that occasion in Quito, it was a romp as the hosts ran out 6-1 winners with Robert Arboleda and Angel Mena finding the net in the first nine minutes to set them on their way.

Michael Estrada, Xavier Arreaga, Plata and Pervis Estupiñán added the extras with a James Rodriguez penalty all that Colombia had to show for their efforts.

The following year they drew 0-0 in Barranquilla as Ecuador made the following year’s World Cup, while Colombia missed out.

They also drew 0-0 last October in the qualifier for World Cup 2026, of which this is the return fixture.