Ecuador National Soccer Team
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

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

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 coach Tite looks on prior 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. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Copa America drama eclipses World Cup qualifiers

By Mauricio Savarese Jun. 06, 2021 07:25 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

Conmebol's President Alejandro Dominguez speaks during a re- inauguration ceremony at the headquarters of the South American Football Confederation, known by its acronym CONMEBOL, in Luque, Paraguay, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)
Qatar and Australia pull out of Copa America

By Mauricio Savarese Feb. 23, 2021 02:08 PM EST

Argentina's Lionel Messi stands on the field during a qualifying soccer match against Paraguay for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020.(Marcelo Endelli, Pool via AP)
Argentina match to go ahead in Peru in WCup qualifying

By Mauricio Savarese Nov. 16, 2020 12:46 PM EST

Colombia's Duvan Zapata, right, celebrates scoring his side's first goal with teammate Juan Cuadrado during a qualifying soccer match against Venezuela for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in Barranquilla, Colombia, Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. (Gabriel Aponte/Pool via AP)
Brazil, Colombia outclass rivals, lead World Cup qualifiers

By Mauricio Savarese Oct. 09, 2020 10:55 PM EDT

Uruguay's Luis Suarez celebrates scoring from the penalty point the opening goal during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 against Chile at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. (Raul Martinez/Pool via AP)
Argentina, Uruguay win in long-awaited World Cup qualifiers

By Mauricio Savarese Oct. 08, 2020 11:40 PM EDT

Brazil's Flamengo players leave the field at half-time during their Copa Libertadores soccer match against Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in Quito, Ecuador, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2020. (Jose Jacome/Pool via AP)
7 Flamengo players have virus in Ecuador ahead of Copa match

By Mauricio Savarese Sep. 21, 2020 12:51 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020 file photo, Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno, left, welcomes Jordi Cruyff as Ecuador's new national soccer coach in Quito, Ecuador. Cruyff resigned from the post on Thursday, July 23, 2020 without having led a single game or even a training session, according to the Ecuador's national soccer federation. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa, File)
Jordi Cruyff steps down as Ecuador coach

Quito, Ecuador Jul. 23, 2020 06:36 PM EDT

Players of Peru's Alianza Lima and Argentina's Racing Club play a Copa Libertadores soccer match at the Presidente Peron stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, March 12, 2020. The match was played in an empty, closed door stadium as part of the government's measures to contain transmission of the new coronavirus. For most people the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness including pneumonia. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Copa Libertadores to restart in September after 6-month halt

By Mauricio Savarese Jul. 20, 2020 01:31 PM EDT