Ecuadorian football structural and financial changes

The LigaPro Council of Presidents has approved a new competition format for the 2027 Ecuadorian Serie A season. The structure will feature 16 clubs playing a 30-match regular phase divided into two stages, with a new ‘Copa de la Liga’ held between them. The championship will move from a hexagonal system to a playoff format where the top four cumulative teams qualify directly for quarter-finals, while teams ranked fifth through twelfth compete in a play-in round. Relegation will be determined via a quadrangular tournament involving the bottom four teams.

Alongside these structural changes, concerns have been raised regarding the economic stability of Ecuadorian football clubs. Mushuc Runa president Luis Alfonso Chango stated that approximately 90% of clubs are experiencing financial difficulties due to high operational costs, including match organization and refereeing fees. Chango has called for more stringent financial controls from the Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol (FEF) and LigaPro.

In response to national energy conservation efforts, LigaPro has begun adjusting match schedules. To support government requests for electricity savings caused by low hydroelectric reservoir levels and the El Niño phenomenon, the league announced that the match between Liga de Quito and Barcelona SC will be moved from 18:30 to 16:30 on October 11. LigaPro president Miguel Ángel Loor stated the decision was made voluntarily to ‘utilize natural light and reduce electricity consumption’ as part of an effort to contribute to national awareness regarding responsible energy use.