How Ecuador overcame an eligibility scandal to take their place in Qatar
The Sports Gazette takes a look at how Ecuador have had to survive eligibility issues and appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport from South American rivals to be sure of their place at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
Most nations were sure of their place in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup by June of this year at the latest.
Costa Rica became the 32nd and final team to qualify for the 22nd edition of the tournament after they defeated New Zealand by a single goal in the final intercontinental playoff match in Doha.
The majority of countries involved have had ample time to plan travel, accommodation and training facilities, let alone look ahead to the start of the football itself this coming Sunday.
Although a turbulent political situation in Iran has called their participation into question, Ecuador were in fact only assured of their place in Qatar on November 8.
Even though they wrapped up qualification for the World Cup back in March after successfully navigating South America’s infamously arduous round robin system, their place at the finals was almost put in jeopardy by one of their own players.
Byron Castillo, a full-back recently acquired by Mexican side Club Leon, featured in eight of La Tri’s 18 qualifiers, including a full 90 minutes in a crucial 2-0 victory in Santiago against Chile.
Ecuador finished in the final CONMEBOL automatic qualification spot for the World Cup, ahead of both Chile and Peru – who instead had to take part in an intercontinental playoff against Australia that they ultimately lost.
However, an interview with Castillo surfaced in the aftermath of the qualifiers that suggested that he had in fact been born in the Colombian city of Tumaco rather than his claimed birthplace of General Villamil Playas in Ecuador.
Both the Chilean and Peruvian football associations appealed to FIFA to rule Castillo ineligible and force Ecuador to forfeit the eight matches that he had appeared in.
This would have resulted in Chile leapfrogging three places in the CONMEBOL standings and above Ecuador to claim the final automatic place. Peru claimed it should be them who took Ecuador’s spot after finishing a single position behind their local rivals in the qualification standings.
Neither appeal came to fruition though, as FIFA declared the player eligible because he had an Ecuadorian passport at the time of playing the matches.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the decision a little over a week ago.
“I did not fear Ecuador’s place in Qatar would be in jeopardy because of the Castillo case,” says Martin Benitez, the creator of Warriors of Ecuador, a social media page that tracks the progress of Ecuadorian footballers across the globe.
“Before Castillo was called up, the Ecuadorian Football Federation waited for proper paperwork from the government before he played for the national team.”
Benitez’s explanation was the crux of FIFA’s dismissal of Chile and Peru’s respective appeals, yet it does not mean that Ecuador have escaped without punishment.
“The situation is concerning,” Benitez makes clear. “The ruling (of FIFA) is set to be a fine of a little over $100,000 USD against the Federation, and a 3-point deduction for the next World Cup qualifiers.
“But as of yet, Ecuador can play in World Cup 2022.”
Although it is now certain that Ecuador will take their place in Group A when the tournament gets underway, Castillo will not be there.
The 23-year-old is believed to have relied on false documents to obtain a passport, and it was decided that he would not be a part of manager Gustavo Alfaro’s 26-man squad to “avoid problems”.
Further controversy involving Ecuador surrounded FIFA’s decision to allow their tournament-opening game against hosts Qatar to be moved forward 24 hours just three months before the start of the competition.
Whilst this lack of organisation was pointed to as further evidence of Qatar’s unsuitability to host in some quarters, Benitez is proud that his nation will be involved in the first match of a World Cup.
“That day will be the inauguration ceremony and the first match so it’s huge for Ecuador,” he says.
“It’s the first time ever that we are playing in the opening match, and it is historic!
“People in Ecuador are very excited for this World Cup.”
The excitement is understandable given this will be just a fourth-ever appearance at football’s biggest competition for a country that is dwarfed in terms of population size by neighbours Colombia and Peru.
Having gone over 70 years between establishing a football federation and appearing at a World Cup, Ecuador’s modern tournament history is impressive.
Their maiden qualification in 2002 was followed by further appearances in 2006 and 2014, meaning their participation in Qatar makes it four finals appearances from the last seven available – double the number of Colombia and four times that of Peru over the same time period.
Benitez, whose first experience of the World Cup was the 2006 edition in Germany where Ecuador reached the knockout stages for the first and only time, believes that Qatar can be another successful tournament for La Tri.
Having taken points from both Argentina and Brazil in qualifying as well as defeating fellow finalists Uruguay on home turf, Ecuador have established themselves as an uncompromising opponent since former Boca Juniors manager Gustavo Alfaro took charge in August 2020.
“Alfaro is the perfect man manager,” says Benitez. “Before he arrived, we didn’t have a set pool of players, he made sure to change that during the qualifiers (for Qatar).
“His wisdom to unite this national team has been like no other.
“We play a 4-3-3 formation and try to keep possession whilst also trying to optimize the team’s pace to open up the pitch.”
A resolute defence has been the bedrock of the team’s success, with Ecuador having not conceded a single goal in any of their six friendly matches following qualification after only Brazil and Argentina let in fewer during the qualifiers themselves.
Former West Ham striker Enner Valencia is likely to lead the line for Alfaro’s side and ever-improving Brighton man Moises Caicedo will be responsible for anchoring the midfield.
As well as these established names, Benitez also expects Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie and Real Vallodolid’s Gonzalo Plata to shine in Qatar.
Caicedo, Hincapie and Plata are just three of 14 members of the squad for Qatar who won the under-20 South American Youth Championship and finished third in the under-20 World Cup in 2019.
Group A will pit the South Americans against AFCON winners Senegal and a resurgent Netherlands as well as the hosts, but another appearance in the Round of 16 is not out of the question.
“It’s a strong group but I know if we play our game we can qualify for the last 16,” says Benitez.
“There is pressure on the team to succeed because the Castillo case has made global news. We need to show the world what we are about on the football pitch.
“Making it the furthest we’ve ever gone in a World Cup, quarter-finals; that’s the objective.”
As well as being confident about Ecuador’s chances of progress, the Quito native is also fully invested in the popular idea that this year’s winner is likely to be a South American side.
“At the moment I think the South American sides are stronger than the Europeans. For me, Brazil and Argentina are the favourites over any of the European giants,” Benitez reveals.
“I believe Brazil will win the tournament. They have an unbelievable squad with Neymar leading them.”
Even if Ecuador fail to break new ground in Qatar, and their scrapes with adversity end up resulting in another Group Stage exit, Benitez will simply be delighted to see his nation at the World Cup as he watches on from almost 14,000 miles away.
“Being Ecuadorian means the world to me,” he explains.
“It’s a small, beautiful and historic country; I am proud to represent Ecuador.”
