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2026 Copa Ecuador

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2026 Copa Ecuador
Copa Ecuador Banco Pichincha 2026
Tournament details
CountryEcuador
Dates28 March – 2 December 2026
Teams51
Tournament statistics
Matches played44
Goals scored109 (2.48 per match)
Top goal scorerMichael Estrada (4 goals)
← 2025
2027 →

All statistics correct as of 26 August 2026.

The 2026 Copa Ecuador (officially known as the Copa Ecuador Banco Pichincha 2026 for sponsorship purposes)[1] is the sixth edition of the Copa Ecuador, Ecuador's domestic football cup. It began on 28 March and is scheduled to end on 2 December 2026.[2]

Universidad Católica are the defending champions.

Format

[edit]

For this season the competition was expanded from 49 to 51 teams, entering two additional sides from the amateur leagues but keeping the single-elimination format used in previous editions. The qualifying round was expanded to include four teams: two from the third-tier competition Segunda Categoría as well as two amateur sides, with the winners advancing to the first stage of the competition, in which 12 Ecuadorian Serie B teams, the remaining 18 Segunda Categoría ones and the amateur champions entered the competition. For this round, the involved clubs were drawn into 16 single-match ties to be hosted by the team competing in the lower tier, with the winners advancing to the second stage.[3]

The 16 Serie A teams entered the competition in the round of 32, where they were drawn against the 16 winners from the previous round. The subsequent knockout rounds in the competition except for the semi-finals (which will be contested over two legs) will be played over a single leg to be hosted by the team from the lower tier, with the final being played on neutral ground.[4]

Prizes

[edit]

The champions of this edition will qualify for the 2027 Copa Libertadores, taking the Ecuador 4 berth which will enable them to enter the first qualifying stage of that competition, and will also be entitled to play the 2027 Supercopa Ecuador against the 2026 LigaPro Serie A champions.

Schedule

[edit]

The schedule for the competition was presented by the Ecuadorian Football Federation on 27 March 2026.[5]

Round Draw date Matches
Qualifying stage 27 March 2026 28–31 March 2026
First round 7–24 April 2026
Round of 32 27 April 2026 12 May – 8 July 2026
Round of 16 29 July – 20 August 2026
Quarter-finals 26 August – 24 September 2026
Semi-finals 6–8 October 2026 (1st leg)
27–29 October 2026 (2nd leg)
Final 2 December 2026

Teams

[edit]

51 clubs will take part in this edition of the Copa Ecuador: 16 from Serie A, 12 from Serie B, 20 from Segunda Categoría, and 3 amateur teams.

Serie A

[edit]

Serie B

[edit]

Segunda Categoría

[edit]
  • Africando
  • Anaconda
  • Astillero
  • Baños Ciudad de Fuego
  • Daquilema
  • Deportivo Ibarra
  • Deportivo Quito
  • Dunamis 04
  • Guaranda
  • Huaquillas
  • Independiente Azogues
  • Insutec
  • Juventud Italiana
  • La Unión
  • Loja City
  • Nazareno
  • Primero de Mayo
  • Río Aguarico
  • Santo Domingo
  • Unión Deportiva Juvenil

Amateur teams

[edit]
  • 7 de Febrero
  • Bejucal Sport
  • Quito

Qualifying stage

[edit]

The qualifying stage was played by four teams: the two worst-placed teams in the 2025 Segunda Categoría's general standings and the amateur league runner-up and third-placed teams.

First qualifying round

[edit]

For the first qualifying round, the two Segunda Categoría teams were drawn against the amateur sides in two ties, with the winning sides advancing to the second qualifying round. Matches in this round were played on 28 March 2026.[2]

Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Bejucal Sport2–3Primero de Mayo
7 de Febrero1–0Loja City

Second qualifying round

[edit]

The two winners from the previous round played an additional match on 31 March 2026, with the winner advancing to the first round.

Team 1ScoreTeam 2
7 de Febrero0–1[6]Primero de Mayo

First round

[edit]

Twelve teams from Serie B, 18 teams from Segunda Categoría, and the amateur champion (Quito) entered the competition in the first round, along with the winning team from the qualifying stage. In this round, the team from the lower tier hosted the match.

Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Nazareno0–4[7]9 de Octubre
Unión Deportiva Juvenil0–2[8]Daquilema
Juventud Italiana2–1[7]Atlético
Guaranda0–0 (3–4 p)[9]San Antonio
Insutec3–3 (8–7 p)[10]Deportivo Ibarra
Independiente Azogues0–5[11]LDU Portoviejo
Astillero2–1[12]22 de Julio
Africando1–2[13]Independiente Juniors
Baños Ciudad de Fuego2–1[14]Anaconda
Dunamis 041–5[15]El Nacional
Deportivo Quito0–1[16]Gualaceo
Santo Domingo1–2[17]Vinotinto Ecuador
Quito2–3[7]Cuenca Juniors
La Unión0–0 (5–3 p)[7]Cumbayá
Primero de Mayo0–2[18]Deportivo Santo Domingo
Huaquillas1–0[10]Río Aguarico

Bracket

[edit]
Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
            
Independiente Juniors 1 (3)
LDU Quito (p) 1 (4)
LDU Quito 6
Leones 0
Huaquillas 0
Leones 1
LDU Quito 1
Aucas 0
La Unión (p) 0 (8)
Deportivo Cuenca 0 (7)
La Unión 1 (3)
Aucas (p) 1 (4)
San Antonio 0
Aucas 3
LDU Quito
 
Astillero 2
Guayaquil City 1
Astillero 2
Daquilema 0
Daquilema (p) 0 (10)
Emelec 0 (9)
Astillero
Universidad Católica
Vinotinto Ecuador 2
Orense 1
Vinotinto Ecuador 2
Universidad Católica 3
El Nacional 1
Universidad Católica 4
 
 
Gualaceo 1
Mushuc Runa 0
Gualaceo (p) 1 (4)
Macará 1 (3)
Cuenca Juniors 0
Macará 1
Gualaceo
Independiente del Valle
Deportivo Santo Domingo 0
Independiente del Valle 2
Independiente del Valle 1
Manta 0
9 de Octubre 0 (3)
Manta (p) 0 (5)
 
 
LDU Portoviejo (p) 1 (4)
Libertad 1 (2)
LDU Portoviejo (awd.) 3
Barcelona 0
Insutec 2
Barcelona 4
LDU Portoviejo
Delfín
Juventud Italiana 2
Técnico Universitario 0
Juventud Italiana 0
Delfín 1
Baños Ciudad de Fuego 0
Delfín 2

Round of 32

[edit]

In the round of 32, the 16 Serie A teams entered the competition. In each tie, the team from the lower tier hosted the match. The draw for the round of 32 and subsequent rounds was held on 27 April 2026.[19]

12 May 2026 (2026-05-12) Insutec2–4 Barcelona Quevedo
15:00 UTC−5
  • Lama 46'
  • Álvarez 76' (pen.)
 Report
Stadium: 7 de Octubre
Referee: Edison Silva
12 May 2026 (2026-05-12) Baños Ciudad de Fuego0–2 Delfín Baños
18:00 UTC−5 Report
  • Mendoza 51'
  • Molinas 78' (pen.)
 Stadium: Coronel José Silva Romo
Referee: Santiago Guamanzara
14 May 2026 (2026-05-14) Astillero 2–1Guayaquil CityGuayaquil
15:00 UTC−5
  • Alegría 17' (pen.)
  • Solís 73'
 Report
Stadium: Alejandro Ponce Noboa
Referee: Kléber Aroca
19 May 2026 (2026-05-19) LDU Portoviejo 1–1
(4–2 p)		LibertadPortoviejo
18:00 UTC−5
  • Proaño 24'
 Report
Stadium: Reales Tamarindos
Referee: Bryan Loayza
Penalties
  • Espínola football with check mark
  • Gracia football with check mark
  • Burgos football with check mark
  • Proaño football with check mark
  • football with check mark Cortez
  • football with check mark Batalla
  • football with red X Valencia
  • football with red X Castro
20 May 2026 (2026-05-20) Daquilema 0–0
(10–9 p)		EmelecRiobamba
15:30 UTC−5 Report Stadium: Olímpico Fernando Guerrero
Referee: Patricio Parra
Penalties
  • Guachire football with check mark
  • Arias football with check mark
  • Sánchez football with check mark
  • Cheme football with check mark
  • Arana football with red X
  • Huilca football with check mark
  • Castro football with check mark
  • Perea football with check mark
  • Mosquera football with check mark
  • Mejía football with check mark
  • Guachire football with check mark
21 May 2026 (2026-05-21) San Antonio0–3 Aucas Ibarra
14:00 UTC−5 Report
  • Miranda 40'
  • Porozo 45+1'
  • Guzmán 90+2'
 Stadium: Olímpico
Referee: Carlos Macías
22 May 2026 (2026-05-22) 9 de Octubre0–0
(3–5 p)		 Manta La Troncal
15:00 UTC−5 Report Stadium: Municipal
Referee: Russell Terán
Penalties
  • Mejía football with check mark
  • Riascos football with check mark
  • Celedón football with red X
  • Chichande football with check mark
  • football with check mark Ramírez
  • football with check mark Medina
  • football with check mark Valencia
  • football with check mark Je. Nazareno
  • football with check mark Chávez
27 May 2026 (2026-05-27) Vinotinto Ecuador 2–1OrenseQuito
15:30 UTC−5
  • Lugo 23', 63'
 Report
Stadium: AFNA Arena
Referee: Eloy Beltrán
28 May 2026 (2026-05-28) El Nacional1–4 Universidad Católica Quito
18:00 UTC−5
Report
Stadium: Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda
Referee: Franklin Congo
29 May 2026 (2026-05-29) Juventud Italiana 2–0Técnico UniversitarioManta
15:30 UTC−5
  • Villacrés 6'
  • Guerrero 56'
 Report Stadium: Jocay
Referee: Lenin Quiñónez
29 May 2026 (2026-05-29) Huaquillas0–1 Leones Huaquillas
18:30 UTC−5 Report
  • Mansilla 43' (pen.)
 Stadium: Humberto Arteta Mayesa
Referee: Christian Guillén
2 June 2026 (2026-06-02) La Unión 0–0
(8–7 p)		Deportivo CuencaPujilí
15:30 UTC−5 Report Stadium: La Unión
Referee: Juan Carlos Andrade
Penalties
  • Guerra football with check mark
  • Villamil football with check mark
  • Cruz football with check mark
  • Mazamba football with check mark
  • Cagua football with red X
  • Vernaza football with check mark
  • Almache football with check mark
  • H. Espinoza football with check mark
  • Lastra football with check mark
3 June 2026 (2026-06-03) Gualaceo 1–0Mushuc RunaGualaceo
15:30 UTC−5
  • Silva 36'
 Report Stadium: Gerardo León Pozo
Referee: Oscar Zúñiga
4 June 2026 (2026-06-04) Cuenca Juniors0–1 Macará Cuenca
18:30 UTC−5 Report
  • Posse 48'
 Stadium: Alejandro Serrano Aguilar
Referee: Anthony Díaz
8 July 2026 (2026-07-08) Deportivo Santo Domingo0–2 Independiente del Valle Santo Domingo
17:30 UTC−5 Report
Stadium: Etho Vega
Referee: Kevin Poveda
8 July 2026 (2026-07-08) Independiente Juniors1–1
(3–4 p)		 LDU Quito Quito
20:00 UTC−5
  • Sciacqua 20'
 Report
Stadium: Banco Guayaquil
Referee: Kléber Aroca
Penalties

Round of 16

[edit]
29 July 2026 (2026-07-29) Gualaceo 1–1
(4–3 p)		MacaráGualaceo
15:00 UTC−5
  • Coime 55'
 Report
  • Posse 66'
 Stadium: Gerardo Pozo León
Referee: Juan Carlos Andrade
Penalties
  • Salazar football with check mark
  • Silva football with check mark
  • Armijos football with check mark
  • Angulo football with red X
  • Allauca football with check mark
29 July 2026 (2026-07-29) Independiente del Valle 1–0MantaQuito
19:00 UTC−5
Report Stadium: Banco Guayaquil
Referee: Eloy Beltrán
30 July 2026 (2026-07-30) LDU Quito 6–0LeonesQuito
15:00 UTC−5
Report Stadium: Rodrigo Paz Delgado
Referee: Oswaldo Contreras
5 August 2026 (2026-08-05) Vinotinto Ecuador2–3 Universidad Católica Quito
15:00 UTC−5
  • Sánchez 19'
  • Vargas 59' (pen.)
 Report
Stadium: AFNA Arena
Referee: Gorky Araujo
5 August 2026 (2026-08-05) LDU Portoviejo 3–0
Awarded		BarcelonaPortoviejo
19:00 UTC−5 Report
Stadium: Reales Tamarindos
Referee: Bryan Loayza
Note: The match, which had originally been won by Barcelona 1–0, was awarded 3–0 to LDU Portoviejo due to Barcelona fielding the ineligible player Erick Mendoza.[20]
12 August 2026 (2026-08-12) La Unión1–1
(3–4 p)		 Aucas Pujilí
15:00 UTC−5
  • Lino 42'
 Report
Stadium: La Unión
Referee: Guillermo Guerrero
Penalties
  • Cruz football with check mark
  • Mazamba football with check mark
  • Cedeño football with check mark
  • Lino football with red X
  • Lastra football with red X
13 August 2026 (2026-08-13) Astillero 2–0DaquilemaGuayaquil
15:00 UTC−5
  • Valarezo 1'
  • Solís 80' (pen.)
 Report Stadium: Alejandro Ponce Noboa
Referee: Kevin Poveda
20 August 2026 (2026-08-20) Juventud Italiana0–1 Delfín Manta
15:00 UTC−5 Report
  • Bedoya 81'
 Stadium: Jocay
Referee: Álex Cajas

Quarter-finals

[edit]
26 August 2026 (2026-08-26) LDU Quito 1–0AucasQuito
17:00 UTC−5
Report Stadium: Rodrigo Paz Delgado
Referee: Yerson Zambrano
10 September 2026 (2026-09-10) Astillero v Universidad Católica Guayaquil
15:00 UTC−5 Stadium: ESPOL
16 September 2026 (2026-09-16) LDU Portoviejo v Delfín Portoviejo
17:00 UTC−5 Stadium: Reales Tamarindos

Top scorers

[edit]
As of 26 August 2026
Rank Player Club Goals[21]
1 Ecuador Michael Estrada LDU Quito 4
2 Ecuador Cristian Benalcázar Deportivo Ibarra 2
Ecuador Fricson Borja El Nacional
Panama José Fajardo Universidad Católica
Ecuador José Lugo Vinotinto Ecuador
Ecuador Felipe Mejía 9 de Octubre
Uruguay Franco Posse Macará
Ecuador Miguel Solís Astillero

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Banco Pichincha se convierte en el nuevo patrocinador oficial de la Copa Ecuador en 2026" [Banco Pichincha becomes the Copa Ecuador's new official sponsor in 2026] (in Spanish). Primicias. 13 May 2026. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Empezó la Copa Ecuador 2026: se define el último equipo que irá a la Primera Fase" [The 2026 Copa Ecuador kicked off: the last team that will go to the First Phase is being determined] (in Spanish). Olé. 28 March 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  3. ↑ "La Copa Ecuador 2026 ya tiene definidos sus primeros 16 cruces" [The 2026 Copa Ecuador has already set its first 16 matchups] (in Spanish). El Telégrafo. 28 March 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  4. ↑ Guillén, Adrián (27 March 2026). "Definidos los cruces de la primera etapa de la Copa Ecuador" [The Copa Ecuador's first stage matchups were set] (in Spanish). Studio Fútbol. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "Se sorteó la Primera Etapa de la Copa Ecuador 2026: todos los cruces confirmados" [The 2026 Copa Ecuador's First Stage was drawn: all the confirmed matchups] (in Spanish). Olé. 27 March 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "7 de Febrero 0 - 1 Primero de Mayo (03/31) - Match Report". 365 Scores. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Continúa la Copa Ecuador 2026: todos los clasificados a los 16avos de final y los próximos partidos" [The 2026 Copa Ecuador continues: all the teams qualified for the round of 32 and the next matches] (in Spanish). Olé. 12 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  8. ↑ Moreira Valdez, Julio (8 April 2026). "Daquilema se clasifica a los 16avos de final de la Copa Ecuador tras vencer 0–2 a Unión Deportiva Juvenil" [Daquilema qualify for the Copa Ecuador round of 32 after beating Unión Deportiva Juvenil 0–2] (in Spanish). El Diario. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "¡Arrancó la Copa Ecuador! San Antonio le ganó por penales a Guaranda y es el primer clasificado a los 16avos de final" [The Copa Ecuador kicked off! San Antonio defeated Guaranda on penalties and are the first qualified team for the round of 32] (in Spanish). Olé. 7 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Fiesta en Quevedo y la Frontera: Insutec y Huaquillas FC se suman a la siguiente fase de Copa Ecuador" [Party at Quevedo and the Border: Insutec and Huaquillas FC join the next stage of the Copa Ecuador] (in Spanish). Futbolecuador. 11 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  11. ↑ Moreira Valdez, Julio (24 April 2026). "Liga de Portoviejo golea a Independiente Azogues y se clasifica como último equipo a los 16avos de final de la Copa Ecuador" [Liga de Portoviejo thrash Independiente Azogues and are the last team to qualify for the Copa Ecuador round of 32] (in Spanish). El Diario. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "La Copa Ecuador con sorpresas: Astillero FC rompe los pronósticos y elimina al 22 de Julio" [Copa Ecuador with shocks: Astillero FC defy expectations and knock 22 de Julio out] (in Spanish). Futbolecuador. 20 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "Con triunfo de Independiente Juniors a Africando FC: todos los clasificados a los 16avos de final y los próximos partidos de la Copa Ecuador" [With Independiente Juniors' victory over Africando FC: all the teams that have qualified for the round of 32 and the upcoming Copa Ecuador matches] (in Spanish). Olé. 19 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "Resistencia pura: Vinotinto y Baños Ciudad de Fuego siguen firmes en la Copa Ecuador" [Pure resistance: Vinotinto and Baños Ciudad de Fuego stand firm in the Copa Ecuador] (in Spanish). Futbolecuador. 22 April 2026. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  15. ↑ "¡Sin arquero! El Nacional golea a Dunamis y se clasifica a los 16avos de final de la Copa Ecuador" [Without a goalkeeper! El Nacional thrash Dunamis and qualify for the Copa Ecuador round of 32] (in Spanish). Primicias. 21 April 2026. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "Copa Ecuador: Gualaceo SC eliminó al Deportivo Quito" [Copa Ecuador: Gualaceo SC knocked Deportivo Quito out] (in Spanish). Ecuavisa. 23 April 2026. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "Derrota para el equipo de Moisés Caicedo: Vinotinto le ganó a NM23 y avanzó en la Copa Ecuador" [Defeat for Moisés Caicedo's team: Vinotinto beat NM23 and advanced in the Copa Ecuador] (in Spanish). Olé. 22 April 2026. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  18. ↑ "Jerarquía de Serie B: Deportivo Santo Domingo no se asustó y sigue de pie en la Copa Ecuador" [Serie B hierarchy: Deportivo Santo Domingo were not scared and remain standing in the Copa Ecuador] (in Spanish). Futbolecuador. 13 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  19. ↑ Guillén, Adrián (27 April 2026). "CUADRO LISTO: Definidos los cruces de 16avos de la Copa Ecuador" [BRACKET READY: The matchups for the Copa Ecuador round of 32 are determined] (in Spanish). Studio Fútbol. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  20. ↑ "Bombazo en la Copa Ecuador: Barcelona SC fue eliminado por la mala inclusión de Erick Mendoza" [Shocking news in the Copa Ecuador: Barcelona SC were eliminated due to the improper inclusion of Erick Mendoza] (in Spanish). DSports. 14 August 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Copa Ecuador 2026 table, fixtures, live scores & results - Ecuador". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
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