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2026 LigaPro Serie A

Football league season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2026 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A, known as the 2026 Liga Ecuabet for sponsorship purposes, is the 68th season of the Serie A, Ecuador's top tier football league, and the eighth under the management of the Liga Profesional de Fútbol del Ecuador (or LigaPro). The season began on 20 February and is scheduled to end on 13 December 2026.[1][2]

Season2026
Dates20 February – 13 December 2026
Matches237
Goals535 (2.26 per match)
Quick facts Season, Dates ...
LigaPro Serie A
Season2026
Dates20 February – 13 December 2026
Matches237
Goals535 (2.26 per match)
Top goalscorerEdinson Mero (13 goals)
Biggest home winInd. del Valle 6–1 Emelec
(19 July)
U. Católica 5–0 T. Universitario
(1 August)
Biggest away winMacará 0–3 Ind. del Valle
(16 May)
Mushuc Runa 1–4 Ind. del Valle
(11 July)
Aucas 0–3 Ind. del Valle
(16 May)
Aucas 1–4 Macará
(26 July)
Highest scoringInd. del Valle 6–1 Emelec
(19 July)
Orense 4–3 Guayaquil City
(7 September)
← 2025
2027 →
All statistics correct as of 13 September 2026
(2 of 4 matches finished).
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Independiente del Valle are the defending champions.

Format changes

The format for the 2026 season was approved by the Council of Presidents of LigaPro on 15 December 2025. The tournament retained its two-stage setup, but with minor changes to the final stages: in the first stage the 16 participating teams will play each other twice (once at home and once away) for a total of 30 matches, and teams will be sorted according to their placement into two hexagonals and one quadrangular group for the final stages.

The top six teams will play the first hexagonal in which they will play each other twice to decide the season champions as well as three Copa Libertadores berths and three Copa Sudamericana ones, while the group in which the last berth to the Copa Sudamericana will be decided was downsized from six to four teams, those being the ones placing from seventh to tenth place in the first stage. The bottom six teams will play a hexagonal to decide the two teams that will be relegated to Serie B at the end of the season.

Although points from the first stage will still be carried over to the final stage, this time the top team at the end of the first stage will not be assured of qualification for the Copa Libertadores group stage.[1]

Teams

Team changes

Sixteen teams compete in the season, the top 14 teams from the 2025 LigaPro Serie A and the top two teams of the 2025 Ecuadorian Serie B. Técnico Universitario and Vinotinto Ecuador were relegated from Serie A after finishing in the bottom two places of the relegation group of the previous season,[3] and were replaced by the second tier champions Guayaquil City and runners-up Leones. Guayaquil City returned to the Serie A after two seasons with three matches to go after a 3–1 win over San Antonio on 12 October 2025,[4] whilst Leones clinched a first-ever promotion to the top flight with one match left on 24 October, after Gualaceo was deducted nine points due to match-fixing.[5]

Although El Nacional avoided relegation on sporting merit, they were administratively relegated to Serie B on 16 December 2025 after defaulting on payments to their creditors on three occasions.[6] The decision caused the club to place last in the 2025 season, thus sparing Técnico Universitario from relegation, which was ultimately confirmed on 9 January 2026.[7][8]

Stadia and locations

Locations of the 2026 Serie A clubs.
More information Team, City ...
Team City Stadium Capacity
Aucas Quito Cooprogreso Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda 21,689
Barcelona Guayaquil Monumental Banco Pichincha 57,267
Delfín Manta Jocay 21,000
Deportivo Cuenca Cuenca Banco del Austro Alejandro Serrano Aguilar 18,549
Emelec Guayaquil George Capwell Banco del Austro 40,020
Guayaquil City Guayaquil Christian Benítez 10,152
Independiente del Valle Quito Banco Guayaquil 12,000
LDU Quito Quito Rodrigo Paz Delgado 41,575
Leones Atuntaqui Olímpico Jaime Terán 10,000
Ibarra Olímpico de Ibarra 18,600
Libertad Loja Reina del Cisne 14,935
Macará Ambato Bellavista Universidad Indoamérica 16,467
Manta Manta Jocay 21,000
Mushuc Runa Ambato COAC Mushuc Runa 8,200
Orense Machala Banco de Machala 9 de Mayo 16,456
Técnico Universitario Ambato Bellavista Universidad Indoamérica 16,467
Universidad Católica Quito Olímpico Atahualpa 35,258
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Personnel and kits

More information Team, Manager ...
Team Manager Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Aucas Ecuador Norberto Araujo Lotto
Barcelona Argentina Pablo Trobbiani Marathon Pilsener, Discover Card, 1xBet
Delfín Ecuador Juan Carlos León Baldo's
Deportivo Cuenca Argentina Daniel Néculman Lotto Banco del Austro, Chubb Seguros
Emelec Argentina Ezequiel Medrán Adidas SOLCA
Guayaquil City Ecuador Pool Gavilánez Astro Ecuabet, Zamofruit Company
Independiente del Valle Uruguay Joaquín Papa Marathon Banco Guayaquil, Chubb Seguros, 1xBet
LDU Quito Argentina Gustavo Álvarez Puma Banco Pichincha
Leones Argentina Matías Córdoba Umbro Isuzu, San Francisco COAC Ltda.
Libertad Colombia Juan Pablo Buch Macón Sport Grand Aviation
Macará Uruguay Guillermo Sanguinetti Boman San Francisco COAC Ltda, DFSK, Betgaliano
Manta Paraguay Raúl Duarte Boman Atún Isabel, Terminal Portuaria de Manta, Tadel S.A.
Mushuc Runa Ecuador Paúl Vélez Boman Mushuc Runa COAC
Orense Argentina Agustín Robles Elohim Banco de Machala, IncarPalm
Técnico Universitario Argentina Ismael Blanco Vaz Sport San Francisco COAC Ltda.
Universidad Católica Ecuador Diego Martínez Umbro Fundación Crisfe
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Managerial changes

More information Team, Outgoing manager ...
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
First stage
Técnico Universitario Colombia Alejandro Cortez End of caretaker spell 29 November 2025 Pre-season Uruguay Francisco Usúcar 9 January 2026[9]
Deportivo Cuenca Ecuador Norberto Araujo End of contract 20 December 2025[10] Argentina Jorge Célico 23 December 2025[11]
Independiente del Valle Spain Javier Rabanal 21 December 2025[12] Uruguay Joaquín Papa 17 December 2025[13]
Leones Ecuador Giovanny Espinoza Demoted to assistant manager 1 January 2026[14] Ecuador Édison Méndez 1 January 2026[14]
Aucas Colombia Juan Pablo Buch Sacked 4 January 2026[15] Ecuador Norberto Araujo 9 January 2026[16]
Barcelona Spain Ismael Rescalvo 5 January 2026[17] Venezuela César Farías 7 January 2026[18]
Emelec Argentina Guillermo Duró Mutual agreement 3 February 2026[19] Uruguay Vicente Sánchez 5 February 2026[20]
Orense Argentina Raúl Antuña 6 March 2026[21] 12th Argentina Agustín Robles[i] 6 March 2026[21]
Argentina Agustín Robles End of caretaker spell 23 March 2026 13th Colombia Hernán Torres 23 March 2026[22]
Libertad Ecuador Juan Carlos León Sacked 4 May 2026[23] 14th Colombia Juan Pablo Buch 4 May 2026[23]
Emelec Uruguay Vicente Sánchez Mutual agreement 14 May 2026[24] 12th Argentina Cristian Nasuti[ii] 14 May 2026[24]
Delfín Argentina Juan Zubeldía Resigned 30 May 2026[26] 15th Ecuador Juan Carlos León 9 June 2026[27]
Leones Ecuador Édison Méndez Sacked 5 June 2026[28] 13th Argentina Matías Córdoba 8 June 2026[29]
Técnico Universitario Uruguay Francisco Usúcar Resigned 27 June 2026[30] 9th Colombia Bernardo Redín 27 June 2026[30]
LDU Quito Brazil Tiago Nunes Sacked 16 July 2026[31] 6th Ecuador Patricio Hurtado[i] 16 July 2026[32]
Orense Colombia Hernán Torres Mutual agreement 20 July 2026[33] 13th Argentina Agustín Robles[iii] 20 July 2026[33]
Deportivo Cuenca Argentina Jorge Célico 24 July 2026[35] 9th Argentina Daniel Néculman 25 July 2026[36]
LDU Quito Ecuador Patricio Hurtado End of caretaker spell 26 July 2026[37] 6th Argentina Gustavo Álvarez 24 July 2026[38]
Manta Ecuador Javier Carvajal Resigned 30 July 2026[39] 16th Ecuador David Mero[i] 31 July 2026[40]
Barcelona Venezuela César Farías Sacked 10 August 2026[41] 5th Argentina Pablo Trobbiani 11 August 2026[42]
Manta Ecuador David Mero End of caretaker spell 11 August 2026 16th Paraguay Raúl Duarte 11 August 2026[43]
Técnico Universitario Colombia Bernardo Redín Sacked 11 August 2026[44] 14th Argentina Ismael Blanco[iv] 16 August 2026[45]
Emelec Argentina Cristian Nasuti Mutual agreement 27 August 2026[46] 12th Argentina Ezequiel Medrán 27 August 2026[47]
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Notes
  1. [i]
    Caretaker manager.
  2. [ii]
    Originally as caretaker manager, appointed on a permanent basis on 4 June 2026.[25]
  3. [iii]
    Originally as caretaker manager, confirmed as permanent manager for the remainder of the season on 30 July 2026.[34]
  4. [iv]
    Andrés Galarza was the caretaker manager for the first stage round 25 match against Emelec.

First stage

The first stage began on 20 February and will end on 14 September 2026.[48]

Standings

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Independiente del Valle (Q) 29 23 2 4 70 31 +39 71 Advance to Championship hexagonal
2 Macará (Q) 30 15 6 9 41 33 +8 51
3 Aucas (Q) 30 14 8 8 33 28 +5 50
4 Universidad Católica (Q) 29 13 9 7 49 26 +23 48
5 LDU Quito (Q) 30 13 7 10 31 24 +7 46
6 Barcelona (X) 29 11 10 8 31 24 +7 43
7 Libertad (X) 29 11 8 10 31 31 0 41 Advance to Copa Sudamericana group
8 Leones (Q) 30 10 9 11 31 32 −1 39
9 Guayaquil City (Q) 30 10 9 11 33 36 −3 39
10 Emelec (Q) 30 10 9 11 25 34 −9 39
11 Mushuc Runa (Q) 30 9 11 10 35 38 −3 38 Advance to Relegation hexagonal
12 Deportivo Cuenca (Q) 30 10 6 14 25 37 −12 36
13 Orense (Q) 29 9 6 14 35 45 −10 33
14 Técnico Universitario (Q) 30 10 2 18 28 42 −14 32
15 Delfín (Q) 29 7 6 16 18 30 −12 27
16 Manta (Q) 30 5 6 19 17 42 −25 21
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Updated to match(es) played on 13 September 2026 (2 of 4 matches finished). Source: LigaPro, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) Goal difference, 3) Goals for, 4) Away goals for, 5) Head-to-head record, 6) Drawing of lots.
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (X) Assured of at least the Copa Sudamericana group

Results

More information Home \ Away, AUC ...
Home \ Away AUC BSC DEL CUE EME GYC IDV LDQ LEO LIB MAC MAN MUS ORE TEC CAT
Aucas — 1–1 1–0 0–1 2–0 1–0 0–3 0–1 3–0 1–0 1–4 3–1 1–1 3–2 0–1 2–1
Barcelona 3–0 — 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 0–1 2–1 1–0 1–2 1–1 2–1 3–0 1–0 1–1
Delfín 0–1 1–2 — 1–0 1–1 1–0 0–1 1–0 0–1 0–0 2–1 0–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 0–1
Deportivo Cuenca 0–1 2–1 1–0 — 2–1 1–0 2–3 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–2 0–0 1–3 2–1 0–2
Emelec 0–2 0–0 1–1 0–2 — 1–3 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–0
Guayaquil City 1–1 0–0 2–1 0–1 0–0 — 2–4 2–1 0–0 2–2 2–1 1–0 3–1 0–1 1–0 0–0
Independiente del Valle 2–2 1–0 3–2 1–0 6–1 2–0 — 0–2 2–1 2–3 3–1 4–0 3–1 2–0 3–0 2–2
LDU Quito 0–0 0–2 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 0–2 — 0–1 0–0 0–2 1–0 0–0 3–0 2–1 1–1
Leones 0–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–3 0–2 — 1–1 1–1 3–0 3–1 1–0 0–1 1–0
Libertad 3–2 0–0 1–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 2–1 1–3 — 1–0 1–0 2–2 3–0 1–0 2–1
Macará 0–1 3–1 1–0 3–0 1–0 2–1 0–3 1–0 0–0 3–0 — 4–3 2–1 1–2 1–1 1–1
Manta 0–0 2–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–1 0–1 — 1–2 0–0 0–2 1–0
Mushuc Runa 0–0 0–0 1–0 4–1 2–0 2–2 1–4 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–0 1–0 — 2–1 1–0 0–0
Orense 2–1 1–1 0–0 2–0 0–2 4–3 2–3 1–2 2–0 2–1 1–2 1–1 3–2 — 1–2 1–2
Técnico Universitario 0–1 1–0 4–0 3–1 0–1 2–3 1–2 1–3 2–1 2–1 0–2 1–0 0–3 1–1 — 0–2
Universidad Católica 1–1 2–1 2–2 1–0 1–1 4–1 2–3 1–0 3–0 2–0 4–0 5–1 2–3 5–0 —
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Updated to match(es) played on 13 September 2026 (2 of 4 matches finished). Source: LigaPro, Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Final stages

For the final stages, the teams will be split into three groups according to their placement in the first stage. The top six teams in the first stage will play the championship hexagonal, in which the championship as well as most of the international berths will be awarded, whilst the next four teams will play a quadrangular for the final Copa Sudamericana berth. The bottom six teams will play the relegation hexagonal, where the two worst placed teams will be relegated at the end of the season. Teams will carry over their first stage records to the final stages.[1]

The championship and relegation hexagonals are scheduled to begin on 20 September and end on 13 December, whilst the Copa Sudamericana group will be played from 20 September to 8 November 2026.[49]

Championship hexagonal

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification IDV MAC AUC CAT LDQ T6
1 Independiente del Valle 29 23 2 4 70 31 +39 71 Qualification for the Copa Libertadores group stage —
2 Macará 30 15 6 9 41 33 +8 51 —
3 Aucas 30 14 8 8 33 28 +5 50 Qualification for the Copa Libertadores second stage — a
4 Universidad Católica 29 13 9 7 49 26 +23 48 Qualification for the Copa Sudamericana first stage —
5 LDU Quito 30 13 7 10 31 24 +7 46 a —
6 First stage 6th place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 —
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First match(es) will be played: 20 September 2026. Source: LigaPro
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) Goal difference, 3) Goals for, 4) Away goals for, 5) Head-to-head record, 6) Drawing of lots.

Copa Sudamericana group

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification T7 LEO GYC EME
1 First stage 7th place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the Copa Sudamericana first stage —
2 Leones 30 10 9 11 31 32 −1 39 —
3 Guayaquil City 30 10 9 11 33 36 −3 39 —
4 Emelec 30 10 9 11 25 34 −9 39 —
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First match(es) will be played: 20 September 2026. Source: LigaPro
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) Goal difference, 3) Goals for, 4) Away goals for, 5) Head-to-head record, 6) Drawing of lots.

Relegation hexagonal

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Relegation MUS CUE ORE TEC DEL MAN
1 Mushuc Runa 30 9 11 10 35 38 −3 38 —
2 Deportivo Cuenca 30 10 6 14 25 37 −12 36 —
3 Orense 29 9 6 14 35 45 −10 33 —
4 Técnico Universitario 30 10 2 18 28 42 −14 32 —
5 Delfín 29 7 6 16 18 30 −12 27 Relegation to Serie B —
6 Manta 30 5 6 19 17 42 −25 21 —
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First match(es) will be played: 20 September 2026. Source: LigaPro
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) Goal difference, 3) Goals for, 4) Away goals for, 5) Head-to-head record, 6) Drawing of lots.

Top scorers

As of 13 September 2026 (2 of 4 matches finished)
More information Rank, Player ...
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Ecuador Edinson Mero Guayaquil City 13
2 Uruguay Franco Posse Macará 11
3 Ecuador Djorkaeff Reasco Independiente del Valle 10
Ecuador Juan Anangonó Leones
Ecuador Ronie Carrillo Mushuc Runa
Argentina Agustín Herrera Orense
7 Paraguay Carlos González Independiente del Valle 9
Argentina Agustín Campana Macará
Panama José Fajardo Universidad Católica
10 Argentina Darío Benedetto Barcelona 8
Ecuador Emerson Pata Independiente del Valle
Argentina Matías Perelló Independiente del Valle
Ecuador Vilinton Branda Libertad
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Source: Futbolecuador[50]

See also

References

External links

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