The 2026 Copa Ecuador (officially known as the Copa Ecuador Banco Pichincha 2026 for sponsorship purposes) 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.

Universidad Católica are the defending champions.

Format 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.

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.

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

RoundDraw dateMatchesQualifying stage27 March 202628–31 March 2026First round7–24 April 2026Round of 3227 April 202612 May – 8 July 2026Round of 1629 July – 20 August 2026Quarter-finals26 August – 24 September 2026Semi-finals28–29 October 2026 (1st leg)4–5 November 2026 (2nd leg)Final2 December 2026

Teams 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

Aucas Barcelona Delfín Deportivo Cuenca Emelec Guayaquil City Independiente del Valle LDU Quito Leones Libertad Macará Manta Mushuc Runa Orense Técnico Universitario Universidad Católica

Serie B

9 de Octubre 22 de Julio Atlético Cuenca Juniors Cumbayá Deportivo Santo Domingo El Nacional Gualaceo Independiente Juniors LDU Portoviejo San Antonio Vinotinto Ecuador

Segunda Categoría

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

7 de Febrero Bejucal Sport Quito

Qualifying stage 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 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.

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

First round 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.

Bracket

Round of 32 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.

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

First leg

Second leg

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals 1 Michael Estrada LDU Quito 4 2 José Fajardo Universidad Católica 3 3 Cristian Benalcázar Deportivo Ibarra 2 Fricson Borja El Nacional José Lugo Vinotinto Ecuador Felipe Mejía 9 de Octubre Franco Posse Macará Miguel Solís Astillero

See also 2026 LigaPro Serie A

References

External links Copa Ecuador – Ecuadorian Football Federation