Marcelo Gallardo begins his tenure as Ecuador's head coach Thursday in Suwon, South Korea, in a friendly match that marks the start of a new era for the national team following the 2026 World Cup and a change in leadership.
The match at Suwon World Cup Stadium is scheduled for 06:00 Ecuador time. It represents Gallardo's first official game since taking charge of the Tri, coming after 210 days away from coaching. The Argentine arrives with minimal preparation time, having conducted only one training session with the squad before departing for Asia.
Gallardo addressed the media Wednesday ahead of the fixture, outlining his approach during the early stages of his project. "We expect to get to know each other, taking advantage of the fact that we have to play," Gallardo said in a press conference held in Asia. "The most important thing is that we will take advantage of this stay in Asia to get to know each other among everyone. Up to now we had one meeting, we brought down some ideas of knowledge, of what we are going to try to do at this beginning. Communication, line of work, understanding of what we want and that the footballers incorporate it."
Ecuador's squad faces notable absences due to injury. Midfielder Moisés Caicedo, defender Piero Hincapié, and forward Gonzalo Plata are unavailable, requiring Gallardo to introduce variations in midfield and attack while maintaining a defensive base that featured in the World Cup.
Goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez, who plays for Huracán, will start for Ecuador. Gallardo confirmed Galíndez's continued selection with the national team during his press conference, a decision that had appeared uncertain beforehand.
The friendly is the first competitive action for both nations following their participation in the 2026 World Cup. Ecuador's Asian tour includes three matches: the South Korea fixture Thursday, followed by games against Japan and a third opponent in the Copa Kirin, which will feature either Panama or New Zealand.