The Ecuador national football team has reached three world cup finals. The first in 2002, where they finished second in qualifying. Argentina topped the standings and eventual world cup winners Brazil were a point behind Ecuador in third.
The Ecuador national football team have the unhappy record, with Venezuela, of being the only teams from South America to have never won the Copa America. Their best performance in the competition is a relatively poor fourth in 1959 and 1993. On both occasions the tournament was held on home soil.
Football is the most popular sport in Ecuador. There is a healthy league structure within the country, with clubs competing in competitions such as the Copa Libertadores. Other sports popular within Ecuador are tennis, basketball, volleyball, rugby union and even bullfighting.