Vidal, Vargas and a Must-Win: Chile’s Probable XI Against Ecuador

Chile is playing one of its last cards on the road to the 2026 World Cup, and it will do so with several changes in its starting eleven. After the defeat against Paraguay, Ricardo Gareca's team will seek to return to winning ways against Ecuador at home, in a crucial match of the South American Qualifiers.

The new cycle under "El Tigre" progresses with tactical adjustments and trials, as the generational change of La Roja begins, still featuring stars like Arturo Vidal and Eduardo Vargas. The team's poor performance in the previous match, along with some forced absences like that of Alexis Sánchez, pushes the Argentine coach to make multiple changes, according to Sporting News.

The possible lineup for Chile in this match is: Brayan Cortés; Felipe Loyola, Guillermo Maripán, Paulo Díaz, Gabriel Suazo; Rodrigo Echeverría, Vicente Pizarro or Diego Valdés, Arturo Vidal; Alexander Aravena or Darío Osorio, Lucas Cepeda, and Eduardo Vargas.

The pressure is immense, and another setback could leave the team with no room for recovery in its quest to return to a World Cup.