The Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) has failed to finalize a contract with Marcelo Gallardo as the new head coach of Ecuador. According to reports from El Universo Deportes, negotiations cooled in recent hours after two meetings in Madrid this week, though both parties remain willing to continue talks.
FEF president Francisco Egas and the Argentine coach met on Wednesday in the Spanish capital, a day after an initial contact. However, there was no immediate positive outcome. Journalist Andrés Villamarín from Radio La Red confirmed that "las partes no lograron concretar el acuerdo que se esperaba" (the parties failed to reach the expected agreement). Gallardo presented "varias condiciones personales" (several personal conditions) that the federation must consider in a new proposal.
What does Gallardo's project involve?
The work plan Marcelo Gallardo presented to the FEF is extensive and goes beyond the senior team. It includes a comprehensive project for the under-15, under-17, and under-20 youth categories, plus specific development for Ecuador's women's football. This long-term vision aligns with preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the main objective for La Tri.
Currently, the Ecuador national team sits in third place in their World Cup qualifying group, with 4 points from three games. Their record is one win, one draw, and one loss, with two goals scored and two conceded. Their current stats reflect a difficult recent run, with only one win in their last five matches.
What is the current sporting context?
Ecuador faces a key moment on their road to the World Cup. Their last result was a 2-0 defeat to Mexico on July 1st. Their recent form over the last five games is 1W-2D-2L, having lost the two most recent. In the World Cup standings, the team is just 2 points behind leader Germany, keeping their options alive.
The urgency to define a head coach is heightened by the immediate schedule. La Tri has three preparation matches scheduled in the coming weeks, all on Asian soil. This context makes the appointment of a stable technical command an absolute priority for the FEF.
What matches does Ecuador have coming up?
The national team's schedule is intense and starts soon. The first commitment is a friendly against South Korea on September 24 in the city of Suwon. A week later, on October 1, the team will travel to Japan to face the local side. The cycle will close on October 5 with a match against either Panama or New Zealand, an opponent to be determined later.
You can check the full detailed schedule on our fixtures page. The lack of a confirmed coach less than a month before the first match creates uncertainty about the preparation for these commitments, which are vital for fine-tuning details ahead of the World Cup goal.
What happens next with the negotiations?
Despite the stalemate, all is not lost. Both the FEF and Marcelo Gallardo have expressed their willingness to continue the dialogue. A new meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, where the federation will present a modified proposal attempting to satisfy the conditions requested by the coach.
So far, there is no official confirmation that Marcelo Gallardo is the new coach of Ecuador. Everything remains in the negotiation phase. The FEF is seeking a coach to lead an ambitious project encompassing the senior team and the foundations, while the squad prepares for its next international challenge against South Korea on September 24.
