Equador secured a vital 2-1 victory over Venezuela on March 21, 2025, at the Estadio Casa Blanca in Quito during the 13th round of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The match opened with high stakes, as Ecuador aimed to solidify its position in the tournament standings. Enner Valencia was the star performer, scoring both goals for the home team, setting the pace at 41 minutes into the first half. He then quickly doubled the lead at the second minute of the second half after capitalizing on a defensive error from Venezuela, pushing the game to a promising early start for Ecuador.
Despite a strong performance from Valencia, who aimed for a hat-trick, the Venezuelan side managed to pull one back when Jhonder Cádiz scored in the 47th minute, just as the game was reaching its climax. However, Ecuador held their ground and was able to keep the lead until the final whistle.
The victory was particularly sweet for Ecuador as it lifted them up to 22 points in the standings, thereby surpassing Brazil, which now sits in third place with 21 points. Ecuador is currently in second place, trailing behind Argentina, who has secured 25 points. The success also puts Ecuador in a strong position to qualify directly for the World Cup scheduled for 2026, bolstering confidence in the team’s ability to compete on a global stage.
As the match statistics showcased, Ecuador demonstrated dominance with 68% possession of the ball, managing to complete 457 passes compared to Venezuela’s 133. Ecuador registered 13 total shots, reflecting a robust offensive play, with 6 shots on target. Conversely, Venezuela managed to put forth 7 shots on goal but struggled against Ecuador’s defensive resilience.
The two teams had equal discipline in terms of fouls, each committing 12. However, Ecuador showed a stronger performance in set pieces and corners, earning 5 corners to Venezuela’s 2. The battle of the titans revealed not only the skill on display but also the physical persistence of both squads.
Both Ecuador and Venezuela are expected to continue their campaigns on March 25, 2025, in the next round. Ecuador will face off against Chile while Venezuela will take on Peru, and both teams are eager to secure vital points in the quest for World Cup qualification.
This fixture between Ecuador and Venezuela added another exciting chapter to the ongoing South American Qualifiers, with Ecuador leading the way in their mission to represent South America on the world stage.
As fans celebrated the result, Enner Valencia left the field to loud cheers, a recognition of his outstanding performance on the night. While Ecuador fans are elated with the victory and standings, they remain hopeful and realistic about the tough matches ahead as the qualifiers continue through September. Only the top six teams will earn outright advancement to the World Cup, while the seventh-placed team will still have a chance for qualification via a playoff.
In this competitive arena where ten nations are vying for supremacy—Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela—the pressure mounts with every game, making the stakes higher as teams aim to secure their place in the 2026 World Cup.
