Argentina seek their 11th consecutive victory when they begin the defense of their title on Thursday against visiting Ecuador in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying opener. Argentina have been perfect since suffering a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in their first group-stage match at the 2022 World Cup, a defeat that ended their 36-game unbeaten streak. The Argentinians won their next six games of the tournament to capture the crown for the third time and followed with four straight triumphs in international friendlies. They will have the services of superstar Lionel Messi when they host Ecuador, who have won three friendlies in a row.
Kickoff at Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Argentinians are the -270 favorites (risk $270 to win $100) in the latest Argentina vs. Ecuador odds, while the Ecuadorians are +900 underdogs. A 90-minute draw is priced at +295 and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5. Before locking in any Ecuador vs. Argentina picks, you need to see what proven SportsLine soccer insider Jon "Buckets" Eimer has to say.
Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe. Since joining SportsLine, he has covered the English Premier League, Serie A, the FA Cup and much more. Since the end of last year's Men's World Cup, Eimer has been red-hot on English Premier League picks, going 57-27-4 for a profit of $3,450 for $100 bettors. Overall, he is 178-169-8 (+18.91) on men's soccer picks over that span. Anyone following him is way up.
Now, Eimer has broken down Argentina vs. Ecuador from every angle and just revealed his picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Eimer's picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Ecuador vs. Argentina:
- Argentina vs. Ecuador money line: Argentina -270, Ecuador +900, Draw +295
- Argentina vs. Ecuador over/under: 2.5 goals
- Argentina vs. Ecuador spread: Argentina -1.5 (+130)
- ARG: The Argentinians have lost just one of their last 47 matches across all competitions
- ECU: The Ecuadorians have scored a total of three goals during their current five-game winless streak against Argentina
- Argentina vs. Ecuador picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back Argentina
The Argentinians posted clean sheets in 13 of their 15 matches across all competitions before their loss to Saudi Arabia. They have recorded seven shutouts during their winning streak and haven't allowed a goal since defeating France in the 2022 World Cup Final. The club has converted in 20 consecutive matches since battling Brazil to a 0-0 draw in November 2021, netting at least two goals in every contest following the loss to the Saudis.
Messi has recorded 11 of Argentina's 27 goals during their current run, including five in three matches this year. The 36-year-old forward has converted in seven straight games with the national team and 13 of his last 14, registering 22 goals over that stretch. Forward Julian Alvarez is the second-leading scorer during Argentina's winning streak with four goals and netted the lone goal in a 1-1 draw against Ecuador in March 2022, which extended Argentina's unbeaten streak in the all-time series to five games. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why you should back Ecuador
The Ecuadorians are more than capable of strong defensive play as their 2-0 victory against Qatar in their first group-stage match of the 2022 World Cup was their seventh consecutive clean sheet. The club endured a mini-slump following that triumph, going winless in three outings, but appears to be back on track. Ecuador enters Thursday's matchup having allowed a total of two goals while winning three straight international friendlies.
Defender Willian Pacho has been clutch for the squad as he netted the decisive goal in victories against Australia and Costa Rica. The 21-year-old shares the team goal-scoring lead in 2023 with forward Enner Valencia, who has converted in back-to-back contests. Valencia has registered five goals in as many matches and produced Ecuador's goal in their last meeting with Argentina, a 1-1 draw in a 2022 World Cup qualifier. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Argentina vs. Ecuador picks
Eimer has broken down the 2026 World Cup Qualifying match from every angle and is leaning Over on the goal total. He has locked in a pair of confident best bets, including one that pays plus money, while also offering a full breakdown of this matchup. You can only see his World Cup Qualifying picks and analysis at SportsLine.
So where does all the betting value lie for Argentina vs. Ecuador on Thursday? Visit SportsLine now to see which wagers in Ecuador vs. Argentina have all the value, all from the expert who is up almost 19 units on his soccer picks since last year's Men's World Cup, and find out.
