Ecuador World Cup Squad 2022: Is Enner Valencia playing in this World Cup?

Ecuador World Cup Squad 2022: Is Enner Valencia playing in this World Cup?

Bertha Wanjiku
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:17 PM

The 2022 Ecuador World Cup squad was named a few days before the start of the World Cup, with manager Gustavo Alfaro presenting a team that they hoped would redeem them from the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The lineup consisted of a well-balanced crew that represented their country in Qatar, although some talented players missed out. Find out who made it to the team.

Ecuador's World Cup squad
Team Ecuador stands for a photo before an International friendly match at Soldier Field on 5th June 2022. Photo by Stacy Revere.
Source: UGC

Ecuador made their fourth World Cup appearance since its debut, with the best performance in 2006 when they reached the Round of 16. Despite a long history of soccer troubles, the country reinvented itself as a worthy contender in South America. The Ecuadorian World Cup squad in 2022 set to attempt to win the trophy for their country for the fifth time but failed to do so.

Ecuador's World Cup squad

The fourth most-successful team in South America is the Ecuador national football team. They have represented their country in the World Cup competitions four times, their last appearance being in 2014. Out of the entire squad, 26 of the best represented the country in Qatar.

Ecuador's 2022 world cup squad

According to FIFA, the team currently ranks at number 44 worldwide with 1464 points. The coach named his 26-man-squad on 15 November, with notable exclusions like Byron Castillo. The defender was left out because of his issues with his nationality status.

What Ecuadorian players went to the World Cup?

The crew that went to Qatar consisted of seasoned talents like 33-year-old Valencia and fairly new athletes like the 20-year-old forward for Brighton, Jeremy Sarmiento. Have a look at the World Cup squad that played in Qatar.

Ecuador Squad 2022
Pervis Estupinan of Villarreal CF in action during a La Liga match at Estadio El Sadar on 5th March 2022, in Pamplona, Spain. Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce.
Source: AFP

Goalkeepers

Shot-stopper Alexander Dominguez is the most-capped player in the World Cup squad, with 68 appearances. He has a tremendous track record for securing their goalpost.

Player

Jersey number

Club

Hernan Galindez

1

Aucas

Moises Ramirez

12

Independiente del Valle

Alexander Dominguez

22

LDU Quito

Defenders

The defence players have maintained a strong physical form to withstand the offence. This was 21-year-old William Pacho's first appearance for his country.

Player

Jersey number

Club

Felix Torres

2

Santos Laguna

Piero Hincapie

3

Bayer Leverkusen

Robert Arboleda

4

Sao Paulo

William Pacho

6

Antwerp

Pervis Estupinan

7

Brighton & Hove Albion

Xavier Arreaga

14

Seattle Sounders FC

Angelo Preciado

17

Genk

Diego Palacios

18

Los Angeles FC

Jackson Porozo

25

Troyes

Midfielders

Including Premier League players Sarmiento and Caicedo was a smart move by the coach, as they brought necessary experience to the team. Pairing them with a tenured player like Angel Mena made the crew very balanced.

Player

Jersey number

Club

Jose Cifuentes

5

Los Angeles FC

Carlos Gruezo

8

FC Augsburg

Angel Mena

15

Leon

Jeremy Sarmiento

16

Brighton & Hove Albion

Gonzalo Plata

19

Valladolid

Jhegson Mendez

20

Los Angeles FC

Alan Franco

21

Talleres

Moises Caicedo

23

Brighton & Hove Albion

Forwards

The playmakers of the Ecuadorian team are fast and agile, giving them the best chance to score against their opponents. The coach selected the team's best talents to be the strikers.

Player

Jersey number

Club

Ayrton Preciado

9

Santos Laguna

Romario Ibarra

10

Pachuca

Michael Estrada

11

Cruz Azul

Enner Valencia

13

Fenerbahçe

Djorkaeff Reasco

24

Newell's Old Boys

Kevin Rodriguez

26

Imbabura

Who is the captain of the Ecuador football team?

The forward who plays for Super Lig club Fenerbahce is the captain of Ecuador's national team. "Superman", as he was nicknamed, has played for Ecuador since 2012 and has made 75 appearances for La Tri. He played for Premier League clubs West Ham United and Everton between 2014 and 2017.

Is Enner Valencia playing in this world cup?

As Ecuador's all-time top goalscorer, with five World Cup finals goals, the forward represented his country in Qatar. The team performed well with the Valencia and Estrada duo at play, the country's most prolific strikers.

Is Enner Valencia playing in this World Cup?
Enner Valencia of Ecuador controls the ball during the international friendly match between Japan and Ecuador on 27th September 2022, in Duesseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Ralf Treese/DeFodi Images.
Source: Getty Images

Ecuador's World Cup 2022 jersey

Marathon company has provided Ecuador's home jersey since 1994, which features the colours of their flag, with a yellow shirt, blue shorts, and red socks. The second kit is blue and white to represent the Guayas province flag. The jersey features a navy blue shield with a monogram resembling a condor.

In which group is Ecuador placed in the 2022 World Cup?

The national team played in Group A against Senegal, Qatar, and the Netherlands. Though their opponents are formidable, they played really well but were knocked out of the group stages.

Is Ecuador playing in this World Cup?
Coach Gustavo Alfaro gestures during a match as part of the 2011 Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana at Julio Grondona stadium on 19th October 2011, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo: Valentino Rossi.
Source: Getty Images

Ecuador's head coach

Gustavo Alfaro took over the reins from Jordi Cruff, who resigned in 2020 after some leadership changes. The 60-year-old Argentine took over and has already guided the team to a 36.4% winning rate and a World Cup qualifier after missing out in Russia 2018.

Who is the best player on the Ecuador national football team?

These are the top 5 Ecuadorian footballers of all time, based on their finishing, accuracy and creativity during games:

  • Jose Cevallos (1994-2010, 89 caps, no goals)
  • Ulises de la Cruz (1995-2010, 101 caps, six goals)
  • Edison Mendez (2000-present, 108 caps, 18 goals)
  • Agustin Delgado (1994-2006, 71 caps, 31 goals)
  • Alex Aguinaga (1987-2004, 109 caps, 23 goals)
Enner Valencia playing in Ecuador World Cup Squad 2022
Colombia's Cuadrado (L) and Ecuador's Valencia tackle the ball during a South American qualification football match at the Metropolitan Stadium, Colombia, on 14th October 2021. Photo by Raul Arboleda.
Source: Getty Images

Soccer fans and commentators could not wait for the big event in Qatar, and Ecuador's World Cup squad in 2022 was a little disappointing to its fans. They were optimistic about taking the trophy home for the first time and winning their first senior team accolade but were knocked out in the group stages.

READ ALSO: FIFA World Cup 2022: ball, price, design, weight, photos

Sportsbrief.com recently published an article about the FIFA World Cup 2022 ball, including details about its price, design, weight, and photos. The ball has been named Al Rihla, which is Arabic for journey.

Adidas has introduced new designs to the ball that will make shots more reliable and accurate. It is also the first made using water-soluble glue and ink for sustainability. Click on the link above to learn more about the ball which is being used at the World Cup.

Authors
Bertha Wanjiku photo
Bertha Wanjiku