The Bolivian team received two beatings at the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, losing away to Brazil (5-1) and then to Argentina (3-0), the latter at the Hernando Siles Stadium in La Paz, with the absence of Lionel Messi in albiceleste team.

Gustavo Costas, the Argentine coach who won the national championship in 2012 with Barcelona SC, is the coach of the Altiplano team that has several missions this Thursday when the greens receive the Tricolor, for the third date of the World Cup: win for the first time in the tournament, prevent Ecuador from adding (not it did so despite the defeat of Uruguay, due to the forfeiture of three units imposed by TAS as punishment for the Byron Castillo case) and end the unbeaten team, which in its presence in La Paz had not so far lost in the new millennium when it comes to elimination obligations.

This is how the Ecuadorian team fared in the matches before the World Cup in Bolivia in the 21st century.

Japan-South Korea 2002

Ecuador visited Bolivia in the sixteenth round of the match, when the Altiplanos were penultimate (never higher than seventh place) among ten representatives. In La Paz, the Tricolor overcame them with a devastating score of 5-1 on October 6, 2001. National goals were scored by Ulises de la Cruz, Agustín Delgado, Jaime Iván Kaviedes, Ángel Fernández and Luis Gómez. The Tricolori qualified for the 2002 World Cup, but their rival did not.

Germany 2006

On the way to Germany in 2006, in 14 out of 18 days, Bolivia was at the bottom of the order. He finished as the worst of all, in tenth place. Ecuador defeated the Greens 2-1 when they visited Hernando Siles on September 3, 2005, three days after the end of the qualifying rounds. Agustín Delgado was the author of the national double. The Tricolori reached the World Cup.

South Africa 2010

As has become customary, at Hernando Siles, the national team once again abused its client, Bolivia, winning 3-1. It was Ecuador’s third consecutive victory in the qualifiers. On 9 September 2009, Édison Méndez opened the scoring on 4 minutes, Antonio Valencia made it 46 and Christian Benítez added the third on 56. Neither team qualified for South Africa 2010.

Brazil 2014

In the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, in which Brazil did not participate as they were the host, Ecuador’s winning streak was interrupted in La Paz, but they returned with a point thanks to a 1-1 draw. In 2013, the goal of the tricolor was the work of Felipe Caicedo, from a penalty kick. The national team qualified for the World Championship in Brazil.

Russia 2018

For the Conmebol qualifiers for Russia 2018, Bolivia again experienced a fiasco (finishing second to last in the table and barely winning four out of 18 games). In La Paz, the Altiplano team could not beat Ecuador again, which added thanks to the 2-2 result achieved on October 11, 2016. Enner Valencia was the author of two goals. No one could go to the World Cup.

Qatar 2022

Ahead of the 2022 World Cup, Bolivia had another miserable performance. penultimate. And with Ecuador it was bread to deliver again as La Tri defeated those from the Altiplano 3-2 on their stage. 3600 meters of La Paz had no effect. On November 12, 2020, Beder Caicedo (46 minutes), Ángel Mena (55) and Carlos Gruezo (88, penalty) scored for the tricolors. Ecuador managed to win a ticket to Qatar 2022.

Out of six matches, they won four and drew two in the 21st century. He has fourteen of the 18 contested points. Ecuador scored 16 goals and conceded eight in La Paz. (D)