Mexico and Ecuador will both have new-look squads when El Tri takes on La Tri in an international friendly at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
The fact that the exhibition match falls on a date outside of a FIFA international window means that both coaches could not call up their regular squads. That opens the door for fringe players and younger prospects to play their way onto two national teams that are on track to be at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Mexico leads regional qualifying in CONCACAF after six of 14 matches, while Ecuador is currently in third place with only six matches to play in South America. That placement would be enough to see the Ecuadoreans advance directly to the World Cup.
MORE: Updated South American World Cup qualifying standings & schedule
Sporting News will be following the match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Mexico vs. Ecuador live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Mexico | — | — | — |
| Ecuador | — | — | — |
Goals:
Mexico vs. Ecuador live updates & highlights
Standings and results: Updated World Cup qualifying table
(All times Eastern)
8:58 p.m.: Anthems are out of the way. It's time for the coin toss with referee Ted Unkel.
9:26 p.m.: Ecuador's Michael Estrada will be going up against players he faces on a weekly basis in Liga MX with Toluca:
Michael Estrada, jugador del Toluca, sale como titular con Ecuador ante México. pic.twitter.com/azlTSEax8o
— Goles y Cifras (@golesycifras) October 28, 2021
Mexico vs. Ecuador: Lineups
Mexico coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino called up 18 players for this camp, but the call-ups do not include any players from Monterrey or Club America, which will be playing in the CONCACAF Champions League final first leg on Thursday.
One Club America backup player, the inexperienced 18-year-old Karel Campos, was called up to replace Erick Sanchez who picked up an injury. Campos has participated as a training invitee in previous senior Mexican national team camps.
Mexico lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Jonathan Orozco-GK (Tijuana) — Jesus Angulo (Atlas), Haret Ortega (Toluca), Jose David Ramirez (Leon), Osvaldo Rodriguez (Leon) — Ricardo Angulo (Chivas), Erik Lira (Pumas UNAM), Fernando Beltran (Chivas) — Uriel Antuna (Chivas), Santiago Gimenez (Cruz Azul), Roberto Alvarado (Cruz Azul)
Mexico subs (7): Rodolfo Cota-GK (Leon), Kevin Alvarez (Pachuca), Victor Guzman (Tijuana), Alan Cervantes (Santos Laguna), Karel Campos (Club America), Alejandro Zendejas (Necaxa), Eduardo Aguirre (Santos Laguna)
Ecuador's Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro will be testing out some young talent and the Ecuadorean press suggests he's looking for potential replacements for three starters who will all be suspended for the next World Cup qualifier due to yellow card accumulation.
According to reports, we can expect a 4-3-3 formation with 34-year-old goalkeeper Hernan Galindez and 25-year-old forward Michael Estrada, who plays for Mexico's Toluca, being the reference points of the 19-man group. Club teams following in parentheses.
Ecuador starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Hernan Galindez-GK (U. Catolica) — 4-Andres Lopez (U. Catolica), 3-Marlon Mejia (Emelec), 18-Luis Segovia (Indep. del Valle), 6-Christian Cruz (LDU Quito) — 21-Julio Ortiz (Delfin), 5-Michael Carcelen (Barcelona S.C.), 8-Jhonny Quinonez (Aucas) — 7-Janner Corozo (Delfin), 19-Nilson Angulo (LDU Quito), 11-Michael Estrada (Toluca)
Ecuador subs (8): 22-Jose Gabriel Cevallos-GK (Olmedo), 12-Jorge Pinos-GK (Nueve de Octubre), 14-Jose Carabali (U. Catolica), 23-Joshue Quinonez (Barcelona S.C.), 20-Danny Cabezas (Nueve de Octubre), 17-Alexander Alvarado (Orlando City), 16-Walter Chala (U. Catolica), 9-Djorkaeff Reasco (LDU Quito)
How to watch Mexico vs. Ecuador
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 27
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Spanish-language TV: UniMas, TUDN
- Streaming: fuboTV
The Mexico vs. Ecuador match will be broadcast on UniMas and TUDN, which are streamed on fuboTV, available to new users for a free 7-day trial.
The match will be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers and future home of Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC.