Final match: Argentina vs. Ecuador in Guayaquil and the full preview

Argentina closes its qualifying campaign this Tuesday at 8:00 PM (Argentina time) against Ecuador at the Monumental Stadium in Guayaquil. The match is matchday 18 of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and will be the last stop for Argentina before the break. The broadcast will be provided by TyC Sports and TyC Sports Play, with the signal available on platforms such as DGO, Flow, and Telecentro Play. If you're looking for practical information—schedule, coverage, and lineups—you'll find it summarized in this article.

Monumental Stadium: the venue and its recent history

The match will be played at the Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha, the home of Barcelona SC in Guayaquil, with a capacity of approximately 57,000. This will be the fourth time the two teams have met at that stadium: their record shows an Ecuadorian victory and two draws in previous visits. The closest qualifying meeting ended in a 1-1 draw in 2022; now, history adds the appeal of playing on the same field.

Thiago Almada and the number 10 shirt in Messi's absence

Lionel Scaloni decided to spare Lionel Messi, and the captain will not travel to Ecuador: the idea is to protect him for what's next. In that context, Thiago Almada will take the traditional Argentine number ten, a sign of confidence from the coaching staff in the creative midfielder. Almada arrives with pace and prominence; his role will be key in supporting Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez in attack.

Emiliano Martínez and the defense: who would be the last line

The probable formation calls for Emiliano Martínez between the posts, with Nicolás Tagliafico, Leonardo Balerdi, and Nicolás Otamendi forming the central axis and Gonzalo Montiel on the right. The scheme calls for Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul to support the midfield, with Thiago Almada more relaxed and Nicolás González supporting the forward line. Scaloni could introduce changes depending on how the match progresses, although the starting lineup appears to be locked in .

Ecuador and its probable starting XI: Sebastián Beccacece's ideas

Sebastián Beccacece is expected to field Hernán Galíndez in goal and a defensive line consisting of Joel Ordóñez or Ángelo Preciado, Willian Pacho, Piero Hincapié, and Pervis Estupiñán. Moisés Caicedo and Alan Franco are expected to play in midfield, with Gonzalo Plata on the wings and the planned attacking duo of Kevin Rodríguez and Enner Valencia. The home side's coach will look to impose pace and exploit the left flank with Estupiñán.

Guayaquil weather: temperature and conditions for the match

According to forecasts, afternoon and evening temperatures will be close to 30 degrees Celsius and high humidity, between 65% and 75%, with the possibility of southwesterly gusts in the evening. This means heat, a sticky atmosphere, and variables that can affect physical rhythm. This will be a factor to consider when scheduling rotations and managing effort from the bench.

2026 Qualifiers: Context and what's already defined

Argentina arrives as the undisputed leader of the qualifiers with 38 points and qualification secured since Matchday 14. With a direct spot secured, the team's focus is on finishing strong and exploring alternatives in preparation for the World Cup . Meanwhile, re-qualification for the South American playoffs is still a long way off: Venezuela and Bolivia are vying for a chance to reach that decisive stage.