The Ecuadorian team began this Sunday, September 3, concentration work in the city of Buenos Aires with a view to the opening match of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup against Argentina, scheduled for Thursday, September 7, at the Mâs Monumental stadium of River Plate.

Coach Félix Sánchez Bas had 9 of the 23 players he called up for the double day of Conmebol qualifiers. According to the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF), players will continue to arrive tonight and Monday until the list is completed.

Who is Félix Sánchez forgetting in Ecuador’s first 2026 World Cup qualifiers?

In the cold and rainy Argentinian capital, the Tricolor delegation trained in the afternoon “with a temperature of around 12 °C” in the San Lorenzo de Almagro complex, FEF added.

23 players fuel the Ecuadorian illusion in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

During the morning session, they worked on activation in one of the rooms of the hotel where the Selection is concentrated. In the afternoon, a football training session was held at the property of the group led by Rubén Darío Insúa.

Spaniard Sánchez Bas has midfielders at his disposal Jordy Alcívar, Joao Ortiz and Kendry Páez; goalkeepers Moisés Ramírez and Alexander Domínguez; defenders Jhoanner Chávez and Robert Arboleda; and forwards Kevin Rodríguez and Jhojan Julio.

The FEF indicate that the 14 missing elements should arrive on Monday the 4th, so the coaching staff will have the full squad available in the afternoon.

Ecuador will face the world champions on Thursday the 7th in a stadium with a capacity of 84,000 spectators.

After that game, the Tricolori must return to the country to prepare for the September 12 match against Uruguay at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium in Quito. (D)