Ecuador
Ecuador (ECU)
Overview
The Ecuador national team, nicknamed La Tricolor or La Tri, represents Ecuador in international football competitions. Founded in 1925 and affiliated with CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation), the Ecuadorian selection has experienced remarkable progression since the 2000s, establishing itself as a rising force in South American football.
Ecuador has participated in four World Cup finals (2002, 2006, 2014, and 2022), reaching the Round of 16 in 2006 in Germany, their best historic performance. La Tri has also achieved several Copa América successes, finishing fourth in 1959 and 1993. The Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, located at 2,800 meters altitude, constitutes a considerable advantage for the national team, with opponents often suffering from oxygen deprivation.
Emblematic players like Antonio Valencia, Enner Valencia, Felipe Caicedo, and more recently Moisés Caicedo have proudly carried the Tricolor colors. Ecuador is distinguished by its technical playing style and ability to exploit Quito's altitude. Under various competent coaches' direction, La Tri continues progressing and aims to reach a new level in major competitions, proudly representing the Andes on world football's stage.