Ecuador’s technical director, Spaniard Félix Sánchez, released six players from the squad with which they played two friendlies against Australia in March and called up others to face the next warm-up matches against Bolivia and Costa Rica.
Sanchez left out midfielders Jegano Mendez (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Junior Sornoza (Independiente del Valle), Alexander Alvarado (Liga de Quito) and Jeremy Sarmiento (Brighton, England), as well as forwards Michael Estrada (Cruz Azul) and Kevin done. Rodríguez (Independiente del Valle).
These six made up the Tricolor’s squad for two friendlies played against Australia in March, which they lost 3–1 and won 2–1, Sánchez making his Ecuadorian debut in charge.
The Spaniard replaced Argentina’s Gustavo Alfaro, who stepped down following Ecuador’s participation in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, in which they were knocked out in the first round.
Ecuador will play Bolivia in New Jersey on June 17 and Costa Rica in Philadelphia three days later.
The helmsman, who maintains the base of the World Cup team, called on defender Leo Realpe (Red Bull Bragantino, Brazil), midfielders Kendry Paez (Independiente del Valle) and Pedro Witte (Vancouver Whitecaps) and striker Anderson to make his debut . Tricolor July (Real Salt Lake).
He also cited the national team’s historic goalscorer, Enner Valencia, an old MX League acquaintance, defender José Hurtado (Red Bull Bragantino, Brazil) and midfielders Carlos Gruzo (San Jose Earthquakes) and Gonzalo Plata (Valladolid). With the ‘Soccers’ but eventually did not play due to injury.
Sánchez also decided that striker Leonardo Campana (Inter Miami) should return to the national team after several years away.
The tricolor is preparing for the CONMEBOL qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup to begin in September, in which they will face Argentina as a visitor and Uruguay as a local on the first double date.
These are the following quoted by Sanchez:
Goalkeepers: Hernan Galindez (Aucas), Alexander Dominguez (Liga de Quito) and Moises Ramirez (Independiente del Valle).
Defenders: Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Felix Torres (Santos Laguna), Javier Arriaga (Seattle Sounders, USA), Parvis Estupinan (Brighton, England), Jose Hurtado and Leo Realpe (Red Bull Bragantino, BRA), William Pacho (Antwerp, BEL), Robert Arboleda (São Paulo, BRA), Diego Palacios (LAFC, USA) and Angelo Preciado (Genk, BEL).
Midfielders: Carlos Gruzo (San Jose Earthquakes, USA), Joao Ortiz, Kendry Paez and Jordi Alsivar (Independiente del Valle), Pedro Witte (Vancouver Whitecaps, Can), Moises Caedo (Brighton, England), Jose Cifuentes (LAFC, USA) , Alan Franco (Workshop, ARG), Angel Mena (Leon, MEX) and Gonzalo Plata (Valladolid, ESP).
Forwards: Enner Valencia (Fenerbahçe, TUR), Leonardo Campana (Inter Miami, USA) and Anderson Julio (Real Salt Lake, USA).
