CONMEBOL WCQ: Argentina vs Ecuador Odds
World Cup Winners Kick off Qualifying Campaign
Messi in Argentina’s Squad
Lionel Messi and Argentina will kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday at home vs Ecuador. The defending World Cup champions are always expected to be near the top of the World Cup qualifying standings and this time is no different. Argentina have won their last four games since the World Cup without conceding a goal and things won’t come easy for Ecuador. Still, Ecuador are a rising team with World Cup aspirations once again. In what should be an intriguing match, we’ll take a look at the Argentina vs Ecuador odds.
Argentina vs Ecuador
Argentina vs Ecuador 
Day/Time:
Location: Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Head-to-Head
In the 2022 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, Argentina was unbeaten vs Ecuador. Lionel Messi scored a penalty in Buenos Aires to give Argentina a 1-0 win, and Ecuador covered the spread in the reverse fixture and managed a 1-1 draw. Argentina are unbeaten in their last five matches vs Ecuador and defeated La Tricolor 3-0 in the 2021 Copa America.
Qualification Suddenly Easier for Argentina
- Next Match: Sep. 12 at Bolivia
- Key Injuries/Suspensions: D Marcos Acuna (Out)
CONMEBOL qualifiers were previously known as some of the world’s most brutal. Powerhouses Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay are all in CONMEBOL and have often sealed three of the four automatic berths. For Qatar 2022, four CONMEBOL teams automatically qualified, and the fifth-placed team, which was Peru, lost in the intercontinental playoff. Now, ahead of North America 2026, six of the ten CONMEBOL teams will automatically qualify for the first 48-team World Cup.
All of that is to say that Argentina can perhaps afford to be a bit more experimental in qualifiers. Still, Lionel Scaloni went with an incredibly strong side for their upcoming matches vs Ecuador and Bolivia. The entire starting XI that defeated France in the World Cup final is available for selection on Thursday.
Argentina went unbeaten in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with an 11-6-0 record. La Albiceleste have also lost just one of their last 47 matches, in all competitions. Although Lionel Messi has left Europe for MLS, he’s been in great form with Inter Miami. Messi, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez are three great attacking options for Scaloni. Martinez has scored five goals in three Serie A games for Inter Milan this season. Unsurprisingly, the Argentina vs Ecuador odds list Argentina as 1.5-goal favorites vs Ecuador.
Ecuador One of South America’s Best Sides
- Next Match: Sep. 12 vs Uruguay
- Key Injuries/Suspensions: D Piero Hincapie (Out)
Ecuador clinched the last automatic South American World Cup berth by finishing fourth in the CONMEBOL standings last time around. While they were excellent at home, Ecuador went just 2-2-5 on the road in 2022 qualifiers. Ecuador have also defeated Argentina just once on Argentine soil in their history.
La Tricolor are on a three-game winning streak heading into this match. Since Ecuador last played a match, Moises Caicedo became one of the most expensive players in soccer history. Chelsea paid Brighton €117 million to seal the 21-year-old midfielder’s signature. Defender Willian Pacho is another rising star for this Ecuador side. He’s scored two goals in three Ecuador appearances and recently signed for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ecuador’s offense tends to run through Enner Valencia. Valencia is Ecuador’s captain and all-time leading scorer, with 40 goals. Valencia scored three goals at Qatar 2022 as Ecuador went 1-1-1 but were eliminated in the group stage.
Match Analysis and Odds
Argentina are unbeaten in their last five matches vs Ecuador and La Albiceleste have outscored La Tricolor 14-3 during that time. Argentina hasn’t lost a home match since October 2016, and Argentina -1.5 comes in at -115 odds. La Albiceleste are also -323 favorites and went 6-3-0 at home in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. They conceded just two home goals in their qualifying campaign.
Meanwhile, Ecuador have struggled on the road in recent qualifying campaigns and are +950 moneyline underdogs. The Argentina vs Ecuador odds also price Ecuador +1.5 at -115 odds. Both over and under 2.5 goals are priced at -115 odds as Argentina has scored at least two goals in all competitions in each of their last ten games.
Lionel Messi alone has scored seven goals in his last five matches for Argentina. He’s also helped turn Inter Miami around as he played a huge role in their Leagues Cup win. Argentina’s midfield of Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo de Paul will also be tough for Ecuador to match up with. It’ll be a success if Ecuador can come away from this match with a point, and a draw sits at +415 odds.
For CONMBEOL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
