Ecuador vs Venezuela Preview & Prediction | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (CONMEBOL)

by Trystan Pugh · March 20 2025, 12:51

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Sebastian Beccacece's impressive Ecuador side welcome Venezuela to Quito, with the visitors hoping to snap an eight-game winless streak in CONMEBOL qualifying.

Kick-off date/time: Friday 21st March, 2025: UK – 9:00pm / US ET – 5:00pm / US PT – 2:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / US – Fanatiz

Key Stats

Ecuador have lost only one of their last seven World Cup qualifying matches against Venezuela (W4 D2).
Ecuador have won seven of their previous eight World Cup qualifying matches at home against Venezuela without conceding a goal (L1). The only loss was a 1-0 defeat in October 2007.
Ecuador are unbeaten in their last 12 World Cup qualifying matches at home (W7 D5). Since a 2-1 defeat against Peru in June 2021.
Ecuador have lost only one of their last 11 World Cup qualifying matches (W6 D4).
Ecuador have kept eight clean sheets in their last nine World Cup qualifying matches. They are on a run of five matches without conceding in the qualifiers.
Ecuador have not conceded a goal in their last five World Cup qualifying matches at home.
Venezuela are without a win in their last eight World Cup qualifying matches (D5 L3) – since a 3-0 home victory vs Chile in October 2023.
Venezuela are without a win in their last 15 World Cup qualifying matches away from home (D2 L13). Last win was in October 2017 v. Paraguay (W 1-0).

Ecuador vs Venezuela Prediction

No doubt the surprise package in South American qualifying, Ecuador have put themselves in an incredibly strong position to make it to the 2026 World Cup and only a fairly disastrous collapse from here would prevent them from doing just that.

Currently riding a five-game unbeaten streak, avoiding defeat here would signify their longest unbeaten run in qualifying since the cycle ahead of the 2014 World Cup. Sebastian Beccacece has been in charge for the duration of that streak, since taking over from Felix Sanchez last summer.

Venezuela's best hope of qualifying for their first-ever World Cup is surely the inter-confederation play-off place, currently occupied by Bolivia who are one point ahead of them heading into this round of CONMEBOL games. Fernando Batista's men, though, are winless in their last eight qualifiers, since a 3-0 win over Chile in October 2023.

Not since October 2017 have Venezuela won an away qualifier, and against this hugely impressive Ecuador side, it is difficult to make a strong case for them. A comfortable home win looks likely in this one.

Ecuador vs Venezuela Tip: Ecuador to win to nil