Ecuador
FILE - The Olympic Rings light up the stadium during opening ceremonies for the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006. Creative director Marco Balich, reveals to The Associated Press that he has been working for a year on a 30-minute show that will run ahead of the Soccer World Cup 2022 opening game between Qatar and Ecuador. He says local organizers "wanted to create a real show, which FIFA is not accustomed to.”(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, Pool, File)
AP Exclusive: Balich leads Olympics-style World Cup ceremony

By Andrew Dampf Nov. 16, 2022 04:05 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2019. file photo, Alex Quiñónez, of Ecuador, gestures after a men's 200 meter heat at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Olympic sprinter Alex Quiñónez was fatally shot in the port city of Guayaquil in Ecuador on Friday night, Oct. 22, 2021, police said. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Olympic sprinter Alex Quiñónez fatally shot in Ecuador

Oct. 23, 2021 09:11 AM EDT

Neisi Patricia Dajomes Barrera of Ecuador shows off writing on her hand reading in Spanish, "Mom and brother," after she received the gold medal in women's 76kg weightlifting, at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Kate Nye wins rare silver medal for US in weightlifting

By James Ellingworth Aug. 01, 2021 10:45 AM EDT

Australia's Lay Jian Fang reacts during the table tennis women's singles first round match against Italy's Debora Vivarelli at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Olympic Tournament Women Singles

Jul. 24, 2021 09:02 AM EDT

Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia, left, and Wout van Aert of Belgium, battle for a photo finish for silver and bronze medals during the men's cycling road race at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Oyama, Japan. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Carapaz wins men's road race for Ecuador's 1st cycling medal

By Dave Skretta Jul. 24, 2021 05:13 AM EDT

Brazil's coach Tite, left, gives instructions to his player Vinicius Junior during a Copa America soccer match against Ecuador at Olimpico stadium in Goiania, Brazil, Sunday, June 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Brazil vs Ecuador 6/27/2021

Jun. 27, 2021 10:42 PM EDT

Brazil's coach Tite, left, gives instructions to his player Vinicius Junior during a Copa America soccer match against Ecuador at Olimpico stadium in Goiania, Brazil, Sunday, June 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Ecuador coach says Brazil's Tite deserves World Cup title

By Mauricio Savarese Jun. 27, 2021 10:41 PM EDT

Ecuador's Damian Diaz reacts during a qualifying soccer match against Peru for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador, Tuesday, June 8, 2021. Peru won 2-1. (AP Photo/Jose Jacome/Pool via AP)
Peru vs Ecuador 6/8/2021

Jun. 26, 2021 05:16 PM EDT

Ecuador's Damian Diaz reacts during a qualifying soccer match against Peru for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadium in Quito, Ecuador, Tuesday, June 8, 2021. Peru won 2-1. (AP Photo/Jose Jacome/Pool via AP)
Ecuador midfielder Diaz has COVID-19 ahead of Brazil match

By Mauricio Savarese Jun. 26, 2021 05:14 PM EDT

Women's PGA in Atlanta for 3rd major of LPGA Tour season

By The Associated Press Jun. 22, 2021 09:40 AM EDT
LPGA TOUR KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP Site: Johns Creek, Georgia. Course: Atlanta Athletic Club....

Doctor David Vallejo and his fiancee Doctor Mavelin Bonilla hold photos of themselves working, as they kiss at their home in Quito, Ecuador, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. Doctor Vallejo and Doctor Bonilla suspended their wedding in order to tend to COVID-19 patients and in the process Vallejo got sick himself with the disease, ending up in an ICU for several days. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
COVID hits Ecuador doctors who delayed wedding to treat sick

By Gonzalo Solano Jun. 16, 2021 09:47 AM EDT

An aerial view of the Arena Pantanal stadium which will host Sunday's Copa America soccer match between Colombia and Ecuador, in Cuiaba, Brazil, Saturday, June 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Colombia says 2 members of coaching staff test positive

By Mauricio Savarese Jun. 13, 2021 02:09 PM EDT

Brazil's Neymar scores his side's second goal on a penalty kick during a qualifying soccer match against Ecuador for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Friday, June 4, 2021. Brazil won 2-0. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Ecuador vs Brazil 6/4/2021

Jun. 04, 2021 11:16 PM EDT

Brazil's Neymar, right, celebrates with Brazil's Lucas Paqueta after scoring his side's second goal on a penalty kick against Ecuador during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Friday, June 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Brazil wins World Cup qualifier amid drama off the pitch

By Mauricio Savarese Jun. 04, 2021 11:15 PM EDT

Argentina's Lionel Messi wears a jersey with the number and image of late soccer star Diego Maradona prior to a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying soccer match against Chile in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Juan Mabromata, Pool via AP)
Argentina draws after 7-month halt of World Cup qualifiers

Debora Rey Jun. 03, 2021 11:43 PM EDT

FILE - This May 13, 2014 file photo shows Maracana stadium behind the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazil will host Copa America for the second consecutive time after Colombia and Argentina were stripped of hosting rights for the tournament, according to the South American soccer body CONMEBOL on Monday, May 31, 2021, hours after it ruled out Argentina amid an increase in COVID-19 cases in the country. Colombia was removed as co-host on May 20 as street protests against President Iván Duque rocked the nation. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)
Brazil players debate whether or not to play Copa America

By Mauricio Savarese Jun. 03, 2021 10:37 PM EDT

FILE - This May 13, 2014 file photo shows Maracana stadium behind the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazil will host Copa America for the second consecutive time after Colombia and Argentina were stripped of hosting rights for the tournament, according to the South American soccer body CONMEBOL on Monday, May 31, 2021, hours after it ruled out Argentina amid an increase in COVID-19 cases in the country. Colombia was removed as co-host on May 20 as street protests against President Iván Duque rocked the nation. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)
Maracanã to host Copa America final: Brazil-Venezuela open

By Mauricio Savarese Jun. 03, 2021 12:26 AM EDT

PSG's Neymar reacts at the end of the French League One soccer match between Brest and Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade Francis-Le Ble stadium in Brest, France, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
South America restarts World Cup qualifying amid COVID rise

By Debora Rey Jun. 01, 2021 03:05 PM EDT

Ecuador's new President Guillermo Lasso wears the presidential sash after his inauguration ceremony outside the National Assembly in Quito, Ecuador, Monday, May 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
Former banker Guillermo Lasso becomes president in Ecuador

May. 24, 2021 02:36 PM EDT

Sebastian Villa of Argentina's Boca Juniors, left, goes with the ball past Nixon Molina of Ecuador's Barcelona during a Copa Libertadores soccer match at the Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, May 20, 2021. (Marcelo Endelli/Pool via AP)
Barcelona SC vs Boca Juniors 5/20/2021

May. 21, 2021 11:28 AM EDT