Colombia vs Ecuador

Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez is the venue as Colombia and Ecuador go head-to-head in a handsomely-looking 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Only three points adrift of the top of the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying table, Colombia failed to build on a scintillating 4-0 home triumph against Chile in October, slumping to a goal-glutted 3-2 defeat at Uruguay last weekend. It was their second loss in three World Cup qualifiers following an impressive eight-game unbeaten (W4, D4). However, their effort to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 2018 remains firmly on track, especially as they return to home soil, where they’ve won five of their six competitive matches under current manager Nestor Lozano (D1). Furthermore, ‘Los Cafeteros’ have avoided defeat in their last eight World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador at home (W6, D2).

Meanwhile, Ecuador strolled to an emphatic 4-0 home win against Bolivia last weekend, extending their unbeaten streak to four consecutive games since a 1-0 loss at Brazil in September (W2, D2). Defensive resilience has been the backbone of Ecuador’s form resurgence, with Sebastian Beccacece’s side keeping a clean sheet in all four matches! However, winning on the road has been Ecuador’s Achilles heel. Except for a 2-1 victory in Bolivia in October 2023, they’ve failed to take three points across their four remaining road trips in the ongoing qualifying cycle (D2, L2), drawing a blank on each occasion!