Its place challenged multiple times over an alleged player eligibility issue, La Tri’s standout World Cup qualifying run has been overshadowed but shouldn’t be overlooked.
Ecuador’s triumphant return to the World Cup was met with chaos almost as soon as it was made official. Chile, which finished qualifying seven points behind the final guaranteed spot in Qatar, filed multiple legal challenges over La Tri’s spot in the tournament, claiming player Byron Castillo was not eligible to play for the national team. The legal claims (and their subsequent appeals) were shut down and denied. Ecuador will be returning to the World Cup after missing out in 2018, and rightfully so (Castillo, however, was omitted from its 26-man roster for Qatar).