World Cup

Ecuador World Cup 2022 squad: Who's in and who's out?

Anselm Noronha
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Ecuador celebrate 2021-22
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Ecuador have some exciting youngsters coming through coupled with a few experienced names for Qatar 2022

Ecuador prepare for their fourth World Cup appearance and will be looking to improve on their round of 16 finish back in 2006.

They booked their ticket for Qatar after coming fourth in the COMBEBOL qualifiers, finishing behind Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, but ahead of traditional heavyweights such as Chile and Colombia.

Ecuador will be involved in the tournament opener against hosts Qatar, before facing Netherlands and Senegal in their remaining Group A games.

They will be able to rely on experienced heads such as Enner Valencia and Carlos Gruezo, but have plenty of exciting youngsters coming through as well, with Moises Caicedo and Piero Hincapie probably the standout names.

ALSO READ: World Cup 2022 Group A: Fixtures, results, standings, squads & full details

Editors' Picks

  1. GOALKEEPERS
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    GOALKEEPERS

    Alexander Dominguez is the most experienced goalkeeper with close to 70 caps, with only Hernan Galinder having decent experience at the highest level as well.

    Moises Ramirez sealed the third spot in the final squad.

    Name

    Club

    Alexander Dominguez

    LDU Quito

    Hernan Galindez

    Aucas

    Moises Ramirez

    Independiente del Valle

  2. DEFENDERS
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    DEFENDERS

    Piero Hincapie is arguably one of the most exciting young left-backs around in the game and has looked sublime for Bayer Leverkusen.

    Although not called for the September friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Japan, the likes of Robert Arboleda and Felix Torres remain important despite injury doubts in an otherwise young and inexperienced line-up.

    Name

    Club

    Pervis Estupinan

    Brighton

    Angelo Preciado

    Gent

    Piero Hincapie

    Bayer Leverkusen

    Xavier Arreaga

    Seattle Sounders

    Roberto Arboleda

    Sao Paulo

    Diego Palacios

    Los Angeles FC

    Jackson Porozo

    Troyes

    William Pacho

    Antwerp

    Felix Torres

    Santos Laguna

  4. MIDFIELDERS
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    MIDFIELDERS

    Gonzalo Plata helped Valladolid's promotion to La Liga and scored goals against Uruguay, Colombia and Peru in the qualifiers to highlight his immense potential. 

    Angel Mena, Carlos Gruezo, Romario Ibarra and Alan Franco are among the tried and tested options, while Moises Caicedo of Brighton is another high-profile name.

    Name

    Club

    Carlos Gruezo

    Augsburg

    Angel Mena

    Leon

    Jhegson Mendez

    Los Angeles FC

    Gonzalo Plata

    Valladolid

    Moises Caicedo

    Brighton

    Romario Ibarra

    Pachuca

    Alan Franco

    Telleres

    Jose Cifuentes

    Los Angeles FC

    Jeremy Sarmiento

    Brighton

    Ayrton Preciado

    Santos Laguna

  5. ATTACKERS
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    ATTACKERS

    Former West Ham and Everton striker Enner Valencia, 32, is the team's most prominent one and the country's all-time leading scorer with 35.

    Meanwhile, Michael Estrada was Ecuador's leading goalscorer during the qualifying run with six goals.

    Djorkaeff Reasco of Newell's Old Boys seems like the other option as an out-and-out forward to feature in Qatar.

    Name

    Club

    Enner Valencia

    Fenerbahce

    Michael Estrada

    Cruz Azul

    Djorkaeff Reasco

    Newell's Old Boys

    Kevin Rodriguez

    Imbarbua

  7. STRONGEST XI

    Ecuador locked horns with Iraq in their final pre-World Cup friendly earlier this month and had to settle for a scoreless draw.

    Dominguez started in goal that match and is the obvious choice to start against Qatar as well.

    They had a bit of an experimental backline against Iraq, but are likely to feature Estupinan, Hincapie, Torres and Preciado in defence in their World Cup opener.

    Caicedo will be the marshalling the midfield alongside Mendez and Gruezo, while in attack, Estrada and Valencia are the two expected to bag the goals, with Mena aiding the duo.

    Valencia in particular is Ecuador's main main, with the 33-year-old in scintillating form again this season for Fenerbahce after a somewhat underwhelming 2021-22 campaign.

    He has already scored more league goals in 12 appearances this term than in all of last campaign.

    Ecuador XI (4-3-3): Domínguez; Estupiñán, Hincapié, Torres, Preciado; Caicedo, Méndez, Gruezo; Valencia, Estrada, Mena