Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Ecuador
Match Time & Date:
17/10/2023
07:30 PM
Prediction: 1-0
Colombia
Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado will host the 2026 World Cup qualifier between Ecuador and Colombia. La Tri aim to build on back-to-back wins over Uruguay and Bolivia and they must be high on confidence ahead of the visit of los Cafeteros. Wunderkind Kendry Paez, who scored the opener against La Verde, will be one of the men to watch in the home team. As always, Internacional forward Enner Valencia will lead the line for the hosts.
Colombia, on the other hand, head into the match following back-to-back draws with Chile and Uruguay. Los Cafeteros are not regarded as good travellers and seeing that Ecuador play home games at the altitude of 2734 m, home win should be considered. To make things even worse for the away team, first-choice goalkeeper Camilo Vargas misses the trip to Quito through suspension as he was sent off in the 2-2 draw with La Celeste.
Highlighted Player (Duvan Zapata):
Duvan Zapata was born in Cali, Colombia on 1 April, 1991. The 186-cm-tall attacker started his youth career at America de Cali, playing for the club between 2004 and 2008. In 2008 he made his debut for the first team and three years later he scored his first hat-trick for the Colombian outfit, in a 3-2 win over Deportivo Pereira.
In 2011 he signed a loan deal with Estudiantes and he found the net for the Argentine team on his debut against Belgrano. After scoring 11 goals in 37 appearances for Estudiantes, the Colombian striker joined Napoli in 2013, but he failed to establish himself as a first-choice attacker.
On 22 July, 2015 Zapata joined fellow Serie A team Udinese on loan and it has to be noted that he scored eight goals in 24 league appearances for the Zebrette. Duvan Zapata has 5 caps for Colombia U20 team, but he has yet to make his debut for the senior side.
Highlighted Team (Ecuador):
Ecuador had endured difficult times in footballing terms having been considered to be one of the more struggling football nations in South America, but the Tri have managed to transform themselves into a team that can never be taken lightly at the international scene.
Ecuador has taken part in three of the 22 World Cups with 12 position they achieved in 2006 in Germany being their best result so far. La Tricolor head into Copa America Centenario tied at the top of CONMEBOL’s World Cup qualifying table and their chances of making it through from group B have been increased with good results and alike performances.
Ivan Hurtado played for El Tri since 1992 to 2014 and former centre-back remains the most capped international with 168 games to his name. Ecuador captain Walter Ayovi is the active player with most games in the national team, while Felipe Caicedo with 19 goals is the top scorer of Gustavo Quinteros’ side.
Leicester
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Milan 
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Man City
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Barcelona 
