The Ecuador national team continued its ascent in the CONMEBOL qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup by defeating Chile (1-0). Chile's crisis deepened, prompting them to regroup with a new coach to enhance their performance next year.

With Ángel Mena's lone goal in the first half, La Tri partially dispelled the criticisms that had surfaced against the Spanish coach, Félix Sánchez. In the end, Ecuador endured excessive pressure to secure a victory that spoiled Nicolás Córdova's debut as Chile's interim coach.

Closing the sixth round of qualifiers with 11 points out of 18 possible (though officially recorded as 8 due to starting with -3 for the Byron Castillo case), Ecuador showcased resilience. Meanwhile, Chile, with this defeat, remained with 5 points, outside the World Cup qualification zone.