GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador.- The Ecuadorian national football team welcomed its final members, Moisés Caicedo and José Cifuentes, on Tuesday as they gear up for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The team is set to face Venezuela this Thursday and Chile on the 21st in Quito.

Caicedo, a key player from England's Chelsea, and Cifuentes, who plays for Scotland's Rangers, were the last to join the 26-man squad summoned by Spanish coach Félix Sánchez. In preparation for these critical matches, Sánchez had to make adjustments due to injuries within the team. Enner Valencia, Moisés Ramírez, and Jhoanner Chávez are out due to injuries, and their replacements will be Leonardo Campana, Javier Burrai, and Aníbal Chalá, respectively.

Another setback for La Tri is the absence of left-back Pervis Estupiñán from Brighton, England, who sustained an injury just days before Sánchez's call-up. This loss presents a challenge for the team's defensive lineup.

Training for the Ecuadorian squad commenced on Monday and will conclude on Wednesday before their journey to Venezuela. Speculation among local sports media suggests that Jhon Yeboah, a forward of German origin, might make his debut in Thursday's match.

The last encounter between Venezuela and Ecuador took place in October 2021 during the qualifiers for the Qatar World Cup, where Venezuela emerged victorious with a 2-1 win. Currently, Venezuela holds the fourth position with 7 points, closely followed by Ecuador with 4 points.

As the Ecuadorian team finalizes its preparations, the anticipation and expectations for these crucial matches are high. The team and its coach are focused on overcoming the challenges posed by injuries and aiming for a strong performance in the upcoming qualifiers.