FIFA World Cup South American Qualifiers: Ecuador vs Argentina Prediction & Betting Tips

FIFA World Cup South American Qualifiers: Ecuador vs. Argentina

Kick-off Time (Local): 09-09 18:00

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Handicap Prediction: Ecuador +0 (Asian Handicap); Home Win + Draw (European Odds)

Expected Scores: 0-0, 1-0, 1-1

Expected Total Goals: 0, 1, 2

Comprehensive Prediction Analysis:

Ecuador is ranked 25th in the world (down 1 place from the previous ranking) and 5th in South America, belonging to the mid-tier teams in the South American zone. In the last World Cup Qualifiers, Ecuador performed impressively, finishing ahead of three strong teams—Colombia, Peru, and Chile—to qualify for the finals. However, they lost to Senegal (Africa) in the third round of the group stage and ended their World Cup journey in 3rd place of the group. In last year’s Copa América, Ecuador reached the round of 16 but unfortunately faced Argentina (ranked 1st in the world) and lost in a penalty shootout. In the first 17 rounds of this year’s Qualifiers, Ecuador has achieved 7 wins, 8 draws, and 2 losses, but was deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player. With an actual 26 points, they are temporarily ranked 4th and have secured a qualification spot. In the last round, the team played out a 0-0 away draw with Paraguay, extending their streak of draws to 4.

Argentina is currently ranked 1st in the world and 1st in South America. They defeated France in a penalty shootout to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. In last year’s Copa América, Argentina also performed brilliantly, advancing all the way to the final and beating Colombia 1-0 in extra time to claim the championship. In the first 17 rounds of this year’s Qualifiers, Argentina has 12 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses, with 37 points—temporarily ranking 1st and becoming the first team in South America to secure a World Cup spot in advance. The last round was Argentina’s final home Qualifier, where they won 3-0 against Venezuela, ending their home qualifiers on a high note.

Summary:

Although both teams have no further stakes in this match (having already secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup USA-Canada-Mexico), given the aggressive style of South American football, this game is unlikely to be uneventful. The initial Asian Handicap opened with Argentina -0.25 goals, showing support for Argentina. However, most current handicaps have adjusted back to a level (0-goal) handicap. From the current trend, the bookmakers’ concerns are not unfounded: for Argentina at this stage, avoiding injuries and maintaining form for next year’s World Cup is the top priority. Therefore, it is worth expecting Ecuador to put in a strong performance at home in this match.