Ecuador women's national team prepares for 2027 World Cup qualifying play-offs

Ecuador's women's national football team is preparing for a qualifying play-off tournament to secure a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. Head coach Eva Espejo has detailed the team's planning as they enter this critical phase.

The play-off process will be conducted in two stages. The first round, scheduled from November 24 to December 5, will take place in Morocco and feature six national teams. Ecuador is set to compete against Ghana, South Africa, and Taiwan. The two teams with the best records in the group will advance to the final stage, which is scheduled for February 23 to March 6, 2027.

Espejo, who began leading the team in May, stated that the squad is working with high spirits and a collective ambition to reach the World Cup. The team's path to the play-offs follows a fourth-place finish in the inaugural Women's Nations League. If successful, Espejo would become the first coach to lead Ecuador to a second senior women's World Cup appearance, following the nation's participation in Canada 2015.